Last week I spent two days in a factory, studying a process and thinking of ways to improve it without spending any big money. It made me realize something very important about communication with Chinese people. They are happy to … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2013
Factory Tours In China: What To Watch Out For
Here are some interesting or useful articles that I found recently. Supplier Evaluation: What should I look for during my visit? Etienne Charlier gives an excellent overview of what criteria buyers should take into account when … [Read more...]
Is it SAFE to send payments to a Hong Kong company for China productions?
Many small importers wonder if sending money to a Hong Kong company is safe. This article will be structured as an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page. I tried to give a clear picture of how HK companies should be viewed by … [Read more...]
Common questions about what an AQL inspection guarantees
Recently I got 4 messages from buyers who asked me to clarify what an AQL inspection guarantees and what it does not guarantee. The problem is, explaining the concept of the AQL (Acceptance Quality Limit) is not simple. Here are two … [Read more...]
Inspections of moulds and tools in China
Many buyers want to have a Chinese manufacturer work on their own designs. And, very often, it means mould(s) need to be created for each new product design. But creating a mould is expensive. If the supplier doesn't already know the … [Read more...]
SAFETY COMPLIANCE: major risks for European importers
Most importers in Europe and in the US under-estimate the risks they are running, when it comes to compliance to safety standards. It seems like, in many product categories, the European Union is setting the trends and the United States … [Read more...]
Product certification, testing, CDF: Q&A with an expert
Two weeks ago I met with Thomas Schmidt, who works as a sales executive at Eurofins Product Testing. Their Shanghai facility is a mid-size testing laboratory that can test most electrical products, as well as many hardline and textile … [Read more...]
Best practices for management of China INSPECTORS
A few weeks ago, we held a seminar about the best way to hire, train, and manage inspectors. I usually joke that "best practices" are make up and hyped up by consultants. Who can come up with advice that is not only applicable, but also … [Read more...]
The five types of product TESTING laboratories in China
A few months ago, I wrote a list of testing labs that has proven helpful to many importers. Today I want to give a bit of perspective on the different categories of laboratories. Let's start with the ones you have probably heard of. 1. … [Read more...]