![5 Difficulties Importers Are Currently Faced With When Preparing For 2022 [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/5DifficultiesImportersAreCurrentlyFacedWithWhenPreparingFor2022Podcast-1140x445.jpeg)
In this episode… The coronavirus pandemic has caused a number of difficulties for importers with Chinese or Asian suppliers. Lack of visibility over suppliers, lockdowns, increased supply chain risks, sea freight delays and very high costs requiring very advanced booking, a global electronic component shortage, and a USD/RMB exchange rate that isn't ideal right now, are the topics under discussion in this episode. If these are affecting you, Renaud's views will be … [Read more...]
A Few Tips To Avoid Quality Fade in China
When Paul Midler wrote ‘Quality Fade’: China’s Great Business Challenge in 2007, I remember it struck a nerve and that article was widely quoted. And, nearly 14 years later, the term 'quality fade' is rather well known among importers. As Midler described it: One of the problems facing China is that manufacturers continue to engage in a practice I call “quality fade.” This is the deliberate and secret habit of widening profit margins through a reduction in the quality of materials. Importers … [Read more...]
How Does Mexico Compare To China As A Manufacturing Base? [Podcast]
![How Does Mexico Compare To China As A Manufacturing Base? [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HowDoesMexicoCompareToChinaAsAManufacturingBasePodcast-1140x445.jpeg)
In this episode… Dan Harris from China Law Blog recently wrote: "Mexico is the New China" and Manufacturers are Moving There. Renaud Anjoran and Adrian from the team explore the topic of nearshoring to locations like Mexico, why it may especially suit US companies, what Mexico's manufacturing pros & cons are in comparison to China, assessing your supply chain risk, and Renaud finishes off by giving some guidance for importers who are interested in moving some or all of their … [Read more...]
How To Add Process Validation To Your QA Plan
If you (or your suppliers) suffer from inconsistent quality, in many cases there is at least one missing ingredient in the quality assurance plan. And, more often than not, process validation was skipped. … [Read more...]
China’s Factories Are On A Wartime Footing Due To Covid. How Does This Affect You?
As we reach August 2021 the highly infectious coronavirus delta variant has infiltrated the country despite China’s stringent pandemic control measures. Importers may remember the disruption caused by China’s strict national lockdown around early 2020 when the epidemic became very severe in Hubei province. Global supply chains still haven’t recovered despite China’s manufacturing sector bouncing back quickly, not least because sea freight initially revised down their estimates on required … [Read more...]
Which China Sourcing Option Is Best For You? [Podcast]
![Which China Sourcing Option Is Best For You? [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WhichChinaSourcingOptionIsBestForYouPodcast-1140x445.jpeg)
In this episode… Renaud and Adrian discuss your 4 China sourcing options: commissioned agents, trading companies, third-party service providers (like Sofeast) who provide sourcing as a paid service, and doing it yourself by going direct to manufacturers, including their pros and cons. Renaud also provides some insight into what exactly it takes to source directly from Chinese manufacturers yourself and shares some best practices for you to consider. Just hit the play button to start … [Read more...]
So, You Are an Inventor Looking for a Manufacturer? Think Again.
We are regularly contacted by self-described inventors who believe very hard in their product idea but do NOT want to manage that product’s development, production, and sale. They are often smart people, brilliant even. But they tend not to be business savvy, and that leads many of them to make costly mistakes. This is especially true for electronic products and relatively complex mechanical products. The million-dollar invention fallacy The truth is, the proportion of new … [Read more...]
If The EU MDR Is Product Compliance’s Future – Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid! [Podcast]
![If The EU MDR Is Product Compliance's Future - Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid! [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IfTheEUMDRIsProductCompliancesFuture-BeAfraidBeVeryAfraidPodcast-1000x445.jpeg)
In this episode... Renaud Anjoran is joined again by Clive Greenwood, an expert in product compliance for a new episode following on from the first episode they recorded about product compliance (which covered the main compliance challenges faced by importers). This time they're looking at the future of compliance standards by examining the new Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (MDR), an extremely comprehensive and stringent regulation. They believe this 'MDR' signposts how future … [Read more...]
Product Design Reliability Drives User Safety
I watched a nice video where the team from Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos' hobby and side business) explains how they designed their series of prototypes. It is a great example of validation of a totally new product that can have a catastrophic safety failure. You can watch it here: Some interesting takeaways: It is pretty clear that people can die if this product malfunctions. And, if there is one accident that results in deaths or near deaths, it will make their future customers … [Read more...]
Tips For Buyers On A Budget Who Want To Start Manufacturing In China [Podcast]
![Tips For Buyers On A Budget Who Want To Start Manufacturing In China [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TipsForBuyersOnABudgetWhoWantToStartManufacturingInChinaPodcast-1140x445.jpeg)
In this episode... You'll love this episode as it contains loads of helpful tips for buyers from China who're operating on a smaller budget from Sofeast's CEO Renaud and this week's guest, sourcing expert, Rico Ngoma from Source Find Asia. They talk you through what you really need to do and some ways to lower costs where possible, so, hopefully, you can start budgeting for what's essential and handle some things yourself. For instance, it's possible to do some due diligence on potential … [Read more...]