China-based British compliance expert, Clive Greenwood, gives us the lowdown on why cheap batteries from China are risky and can be dangerous for consumers, and how compliance laws are changing so that using them in future will be almost … [Read more...]
Analyzing Reliability Problems in the News Recently: Titan Sub and Siemens Gamesa Wind Turbines
We explore two high-profile product reliability problems that have been in the news recently: the destruction of the Oceangate Titan submersible that catastrophically imploded near the wreck of the Titanic and the reliability failures of … [Read more...]
EU Product Chemical Compliance and Tips for Buyers
Renaud welcomes our friend Fredrik Grönkvist of Compliancegate.com to discuss EU product compliance, in particular, harmful substances of note, common regulations or directives you need to comply with, and what we can learn from recent data … [Read more...]
New Product Launch: Planning & Discovery Phases Are So Important
I read an interesting book recently: How big things get done, by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner. The authors have amassed a large database of “big projects” — from roads and high-speed train lines to airports and nuclear power plants — … [Read more...]
Can you be TOO trusting with your Chinese factory in the name of being partners?
Some Western buyers who outsource their manufacturing (and product development in some cases) to Chinese suppliers think that offering a partnership where each side strives to be as friendly as possible and accommodate each other perhaps … [Read more...]
How to figure out what reliability testing you need?
Let's explore how to figure out what reliability testing you need for your product, the questions reliability engineers will ask you, and the factors that influence the kinds of testing to be done and its cost. … [Read more...]
Answers to your questions about new product development, supplier bankruptcy, sourcing from China, and controlling product quality & reliability.
Renaud answers four exciting questions from our podcast's listeners. We cover new product development, if and how to start purchasing and importing electronics, supplier bankruptcy, and tips for controlling product quality and … [Read more...]
10 Factors Affecting Electronic Product Design Costs
Let's explore 10 factors that affect the cost of electronic product designs and the reasons why they do and tips on what you need to be aware of. Anyone bringing new products to the market who is interested in controlling costs should at … [Read more...]
“Checklist Manifesto” | Improving New Product Introduction & Routine Manufacturing
I recently read The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande, a surgeon with a strong interest in process improvement. It's a great book about the value of multi-disciplinary reviews at certain stages of a project and … [Read more...]
Responsible & Sustainable Purchasing Practices: Your Future?
Let's explore responsible and sustainable purchasing and why buyers play an important role in their supply chain's ESG performance and risks and improvements can't all be laid at the feet of their suppliers. At times some buyers probably … [Read more...]