Here are some interesting or useful articles that I found recently. Quality Management Systems in China Explained Fredrik Grönkvist asked me the following questions about certifications to the ISO 9001 standard (and to other QMS … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2014
Writing Down Measurement Findings During an Inspection
When it comes to checking garments, or precision mechanical pieces, inspectors can spend most of their time checking measurements. And, in many cases, they need to write down their findings one by one. There are few common pitfalls to … [Read more...]
Advantages and Drawbacks of the ISO/TS 16949 Standard
One of our regular readers, Brad Pritts, sent me a note about yesterday's article. I thought it was a great follow up. Here it is. -- I've been working with ISO TS 16949 since its inception, and with its predecessor, QS-9000. I'd have … [Read more...]
ISO/TS 16949: Great Improvements Over ISO 9001
Over the past few days, I have been learning a lot about the ISO/TS 16949 standard. We are working on the development of adequate auditing services to clients in the automotive industry. This "technical specification" (TS) goes much … [Read more...]
Inspecting During Production vs Monitoring Production
Some buyers realize that they need to keep a close eye on production is important, and that catching problems earlier is far cheaper than later. This is an approach I strongly encourage. There are two ways of checking production … [Read more...]
How Can Inventors Develop a Custom-Made Product in China?
From time to time, I talk with an inventor who is planning to have his/her new-to-the-world product made in China. And they often need to get from initial designs to production... Which means they need to get the "development" … [Read more...]
How Adidas Footwear Helped Suppliers Increase Labor Productivity
Last month, Mr. Guenther from Adidas Footwear's Manufacturing Excellence department gave a presentation on the topic of "Dealing effectively with increases in labor costs in a labor intensive industry". It was one of the best presentations … [Read more...]
VAT Rebate for Exporters in China: How Does It Work?
Note added in October 2018: The full VAT rate is now 16% (not 17%). To see a graphical representation of the VAT and VAT rebate flows, see this post. Most importers buy their goods under FOB terms and don't need to worry … [Read more...]