I wrote several times that the most organized buyers adopt a project management approach. Mike Bellamy just published a very good video that explains why, and how, importers can follow this approach to manage their production in … [Read more...]
China sourcing is a game!
Many importers are frustrated and exasperated by the behavior of some Chinese suppliers, who are "playing games". Paul Midler's book (Poorly Made In China) does a fantastic job at dissecting the tactics of a few Chinese … [Read more...]
Are Chinese factories naturally disorganized?
I heard this comment from many buyers: Chinese factories are so disorganized! Who tends to make this type of observation? Importers who chase low prices and/or who purchase low quantities (and whose production ends up in small factories). … [Read more...]
How much should importers pay for pre-production samples?
A few readers have asked me whether it is normal to pay for pre-production samples when they buy from a Chinese factory. So I thought I should cover this topic. Short answer: Basically there are no rules. It is all left to negotiation … [Read more...]
QC inspections are only a part of your quality assurance strategy
QC inspections don't ensure quality. They only expose lack of quality. Which is good if you didn't oversee production and you are about to ship. But it is not sufficient. Inspecting a production run gives you some information, which can … [Read more...]
How to reduce your QC inspections budget?
Many companies that import from China pay for a third-party quality inspection before each shipment. At close to 300 USD per day of work, it quickly amounts to large sums. Naturally, the question of how to reduce this budget is often … [Read more...]
Solar panels: China introduces a new standard to cool competition down
A few years ago, China decided to be the biggest producer of photovoltaic cells and panels. They gave out billions of RMB in loans to local manufacturers (located mostly in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, close to Shanghai). What happened? … [Read more...]
How to draw samples for a QC inspection
Drawing samples is a critical step during a quality inspection. Some inspectors were never trained properly to do it, and most others take shortcuts. I guess poor sampling is responsible for 30-40% of the complaints that inspection firms … [Read more...]
The art of granting exceptions to your quality standard
On Sunday I met with an American importer who has been sourcing from China for many years, and who shared his frustrations with me. His biggest headache, it seems, is maintaining his quality standard. Why is is so hard? Because of his … [Read more...]
Chinese factories: what can be checked
For the average importer, there is a lot of choice when it comes to methods for gathering information about a Chinese factory. If you need basic due diligence before issuing a first order, if you want to collect evidence of misbehavior, … [Read more...]
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