This post is about re-inspections following a rejection for quality issues. Not about second inspections that are booked because the first inspection was impossible to carry out (e.g. because a last-minute problem delayed all production, … [Read more...]
Getting quality products from China: it takes time and effort
As I wrote in my last post, it is possible to find good manufacturers who don't play games and ship good quality products out of China. I see this type of situation with some of my buyers, who have narrowed down on a few good … [Read more...]
China buying experience: shopping mall or contractor?
David Dayton just published another insightful blog post about China sourcing: Foreign Mental Blocks. It lists a few issues that many importers have a hard time to understand. One of the points he raises is that "Working with China is … [Read more...]
Small importers buying unsafe products in China
Small buyers have a hard time ensuring that what they import from China is safe for consumers. In many cases, there is no way they can buy direct from China and pay for all the inspections and lab tests that are necessary, and still make a … [Read more...]
Is direct sourcing really the overall trend?
Over the past 15 years, foreign buyers of Chinese goods have developed direct relationships with manufacturers. Many of them have tried to bypass Hong Kong trading firms and Chinese "import & export companies", in search of lower prices … [Read more...]
How to check many small orders produced at the same time
One of my clients places lots of small orders in China. For example, they would place 15 orders in a factory, for shipment at the same time. Each order is a particular style, and all combined they don't even fill a 20' container. How to … [Read more...]
Empty factory buildings in Dongguan
Yesterday I had a discussion with a friend based in Dongguan city (a major export manufacturing base between Shenzhen and Guangzhou). He estimates that 25% to 35% of factory buildings are empty and unoccupied. In his area, the rental fee … [Read more...]
Negotiate about prices, not about quality standards
I had a funny conversation with one of my clients’ suppliers. My inspector had found too many defects and had to reject one of their shipments. I was also in the factory, monitoring the whole thing. I started questioning the supplier about … [Read more...]
Social compliance audits in factories: perverse effects
Several articles and books have described the perverse effects of audits for social compliance. An auditor goes to a factory, looks for evidence of non-compliance to local law and some international standards, and produces a report used by … [Read more...]
The brain drain away from inspection firms
After reading a bunch of resumes and talking with a few people in the industry, I have the feeling that most inspectors don't work in third-party companies for long. I might well be wrong, of course. It is only the fruit of a few … [Read more...]
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