Manufacturing Partners / Collaboration Model
How we collaborate with contract manufacturers.
IQ Labs LLC approaches manufacturer relationships as long-term technical partnerships. Our collaboration model is designed to reduce friction, respect existing workflows, and keep teams aligned on the texture, stability, and performance standards that define DermisIQ.
Structured, not rigid.
We provide clear frameworks, briefs, and decision points, while allowing each partner to work within their established processes and equipment realities.
Technical-first communication.
Discussions focus on formulation mechanics, stability, and manufacturability—not marketing slogans. This keeps teams aligned on what matters most for scale-up.
Milestone-based alignment.
Instead of constant check-ins, we anchor collaboration around key milestones: brief approval, sample rounds, stability checks, and pre-production reviews.
Roles, responsibilities & points of contact.
We believe in clear ownership and lean communication. Each DermisIQ project is structured around a small, defined group of decision-makers on both sides.
IQ Labs LLC responsibilities
- • Provide focused product briefs and technical context.
- • Consolidate internal feedback into clear, actionable notes.
- • Make timely decisions on sample selection and next-step direction.
- • Coordinate brand, packaging, and launch timelines around realistic production schedules.
Manufacturing partner responsibilities
- • Advise on feasibility, constraints, and preferred technical approaches.
- • Develop and document lab samples aligned with agreed briefs.
- • Communicate lead times, capacity, and scheduling realities.
- • Maintain internal SOPs, quality oversight, and compliance frameworks.
Communication cadence & review structure.
We prefer a milestone-based communication model that concentrates discussion around moments when decisions are needed. This protects lab time while keeping projects moving decisively.
1. Brief & alignment
Initial meeting to review the technical brief, clarify constraints, and agree on sample scope, timelines, and key risks to watch.
2. Sample review sessions
Structured reviews after each lab round, with written feedback, summarized findings, and a clear decision on next steps.
3. Pre-production checkpoint
Final review prior to pilot or first full production run to align on batch size, filling, packaging, and any remaining open items.
Documentation flow & decision history.
We keep documentation lightweight but traceable. The goal is to ensure that key choices and learnings are captured without creating unnecessary administrative load.
Technical briefs & updates
We issue an initial technical brief and only revise it when there are meaningful scope changes. Each revision is dated and clearly summarized so teams always know which version is active.
Decision snapshots
Key decisions—such as selected architectures, approved alternates, or packaging choices—are captured as short notes or summaries rather than lengthy reports. This keeps everyone aligned over time.
Handling issues, constraints & change.
No production environment is entirely static. Our collaboration model assumes that issues and constraints will occasionally arise and focuses on resolving them quickly and constructively.
- • We encourage early signalling of material changes, capacity limits, or unusual stability observations.
- • Where needed, we support structured root-cause discussions rather than assigning blame.
- • Any resulting changes to architecture, process, or packaging are documented in a concise, mutually agreed form.
The objective is to maintain a partnership that can adapt to real manufacturing conditions while protecting the integrity of the DermisIQ brand and the operational realities of our partners.