Sourcing a good supplier that offers a competitive price is hard. There is a lot of "noise" to filter out in that search process. But did you wonder what that process looks like on the supplier's side? Maybe it would help you improve the … [Read more...]
Background checks on Hong Kong companies
Readers often ask me questions about a Chinese supplier. They send me a company name and an associated address in China. When I see the name, I often say "this looks like a Hong Kong company name". The fact is, many Chinese exporters … [Read more...]
6 tips for background checks on Chinese suppliers
I frequently lament about the number of importers who take high risks by not doing any quality control. But the most under-rated tool to reduce risks in China is certainly running a background check on potential suppliers. I listed 6 … [Read more...]
Writing a procedure that is consistent with ISO 9000 standards
Two days ago I wrote that every SME should have written procedures, but how to start? Who should write them? What format to follow? The majority of articles and manuals available focus on large companies. I tried to write advice … [Read more...]
Why every SME should have written procedures
Most small and mid-size companies (be they factories, importers, buying offices, trading companies...) do not have written procedures. A well-written set of procedures that is respected and applied by the whole staff is a tremendous … [Read more...]
Who is your best contact in Chinese factories?
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...]
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...]
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