![What Is The Minimum Viable Quality Management System For A New Manufacturer? [7 Steps]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/WhatIsaMinimumViableQualitySystemforaNewManufacturer-1140x445.jpg)
I have often looked for best practices by looking at the automotive industry's practices when considering what the minimum viable quality management system for a new manufacturer can be. For example: ISO/TS 16949: Great Improvements Over ISO 9001 (Note: that standard is now called IATF 1m6949 and is even more work to apply) Best Practices for Qualifying a Chinese Factory (Note: that is called the PPAP) So, if IATF 16949 is "ISO 9001 ++", let's look at the opposite. What would "ISO … [Read more...]
Would Liability Insurance Protect You when Buying Product from China?
If your company sells products on the US market, and in the unfortunate event some of these products cause consumer injuries, there is no cap on the damages you might be forced to pay. The cost of recalls and/or the amount of damages might lead your company straight to bankruptcy. If you buy products from a Chinese supplier, and they only have assets in China, you will probably be unable to collect that cost back. To mitigate this risk, many importers look into liability insurance. The … [Read more...]
Why Design Defects Are Behind Many Quality/Safety Issues
There is a tendency for inexperienced importers to blame their suppliers for all quality and safety issues that come up. However, in the situation where the buyer works with an OEM or a contract manufacturer, they share some (and usually all) of the responsibility when something goes wrong. It may well be that manufacturing or design defects are the cause. … [Read more...]
China Supply Chain Transparency and Monitoring: Not Getting Easier…
China supply chain transparency and monitoring is still as important an issue as it has ever been, and importers need to stay on their toes. Let's explore why this isn't getting any easier... … [Read more...]
8 Elements of a Low-Risk Supply Chain in China [Free Webinar]
![8 Elements of a Low-Risk Supply Chain in China [Free Webinar]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/8ElementsOfALowRiskSupplyChainInChinawebinarsm-1140x445.jpg)
Clients often ask us for assistance in improving their supply chain in China. For instance, it's common to hear that they aren't satisfied with poor quality, with missed timelines, or with unethical practices. If your supply chain is giving you issues like this, and it is causing your business unnecessary risk, you might not have taken all the necessary steps. How to lower these risks and build a low-risk supply chain in China? Over at Sofeast, we've created a free webinar for you about … [Read more...]
How To Test Plastic Material Properties [Videos]
![How To Test Plastic Material Properties [Videos]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/HowToTestPlasticMaterialProperties-1140x445.jpg)
I recently published a list of videos on the injection molding process, and importers of hard goods made from plastics (or at least using plastic components) also need to know how to test plastic material properties. Why is plastic testing important? We'll explore it in this post and leave you better equipped to manage your supply chain. … [Read more...]
What Is a Certificate of Conformity (COC), and How To Get One?
Some clients have asked us "what is a certificate of conformity" over the years, and we wrote this article to answer that question. … [Read more...]
Effects Of The US-China Trade War On Manufacturing Relocations
A few days ago, I shared an article entitled Are Manufacturers Really Leaving China? The China Perspective on Linkedin. David Collins, the author, wrote: Right now, a full-scale exodus is more talk than anything else; it is too early to tell with any degree of certainty what exactly will happen. But, numerous companies have signalled that they are exploring the option of leaving but have not pulled up stakes yet. This post generated a number of excellent comments, some of which I reproduced … [Read more...]
All about Plastic Injection Molding and Thermoplastics [Videos]
![All about Plastic Injection Molding and Thermoplastics [Videos]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/AllaboutPlasticInjectionMoldingandThermoplasticsVideos-1140x445.jpg)
Do some of your products include plastic parts? If you purchase hard goods, that's probably the case. When writing a guide about plastics manufacturing last month, and I made a list of products that are made in China and incorporate thermoplastics. Here are a few: The casing of many electrical appliances and electronic products Many vehicle parts (e.g. instrument panels in PVC, a dashboard in ABS, bumpers in PP, cams in PA, buttons in PS…) Many construction parts (e.g. countertops, … [Read more...]
Continuous Auditing to Keep Pressure on a China Factory: How it Works
One of the questions our clients ask most often is "how to keep the pressure on our supplier's factory so they improve and they don't make the same mistakes again". Continuous auditing is an answer to this, but how does it work? … [Read more...]