Here are some interesting or useful articles that I found recently. 5 People You Should Know by Name in Your Factory My friends at InTouch wrote about the best contacts to know in Chinese factories: The owner - for pricing, … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2013
Co-development with Chinese suppliers
When it comes to developing a new product, an importing business cannot always do it all alone. Sometimes it is possible, and I strongly suggest the following steps for complex products: (1) develop a prototype with a few technical … [Read more...]
What is the “lean” approach to manufacturing, and is it applicable in China?
In 5 building blocks for developing good Chinese suppliers I mentioned that the last step (re-organizing production) was all about lean. But I noticed that a few readers are not familiar with the lean approach to manufacturing. What is the … [Read more...]
Preserving a brand’s reputation when manufacturing in low-cost countries
How can a brand protect its image, and at the same time place production in countries like Bangladesh, India, or China? Many people would say "it's impossible to lower risks to zero" and they would be right. But how to reduce risks to a … [Read more...]
5 building blocks for developing good Chinese suppliers
Last week, I was happy to moderate a seminar organized in Shenzhen by the European Chamber. The three speakers, who were kind enough to come and expose the programs they use for developing good Chinese suppliers, represented very diverse … [Read more...]
The regained interest in china manufacturing
Looking back over the past few years, several trends have come and gone. One of them is the interest of most importers in moving production out of China. 2009 to 2011: low-cost Asia was fashionable The context was clear: prices of … [Read more...]
China sourcing: do not focus on the supplier’s FOB price
I often tell importers not to focus too much on the factory-gate price when selecting a supplier. There are so many other elements to take into account! Recently I had the chance to attend a presentation (in a FCCIHK seminar) … [Read more...]
Interacting with Chinese manufacturers
Here are some interesting or useful articles that I found recently. Choosing A China OEM Manufacturer: A Practical Guide Steve Dickinson suggests some non-conventional ways to spot fake factories (trying to put up a show and impress … [Read more...]
Pushing Chinese suppliers to improve: seminar in Shenzhen
It is the rare importer or trader who doesn't have direct competition. And what makes a company more competitive? Quite often, its supplier base. Maybe they are getting higher quality products and fewer shipment delays, without paying … [Read more...]