1. What is a sampling plan? A sampling plan allows an auditor or a researcher to study a group (e.g. a batch of products, a segment of the population) by observing only a part of that group, and to reach conclusions with a pre-defined … [Read more...]
Understanding the Basics about Food GMP
Several clients asked precise questions recently about food GMPs. I asked Annie, our food production safety specialist, to clarify some key topics. Q: What are food GMPs? Food GMPs are the industry-specific 'good manufacturing practices' … [Read more...]
Transitioning to Supplier Self Inspections: Go Stage by Stage
It seems nearly every major retailer has given some thought to letting their suppliers check quality themselves. I wrote about it in Why Supplier Self-Inspections Are Getting More Popular in China. The obvious benefit is cutting costs. … [Read more...]
A Key China Sourcing Criterion: Can Your Factory Improve?
If you are only going to place 2 or 3 orders with a supplier, the key sourcing criteria will probably be quality, price, past production of similar products, and understanding of compliance requirements. However, if you are looking for a … [Read more...]
Carbon vs. Alloy vs. Stainless: Steel Grades You Might Buy in China
There are basically 3 steel grades (types of steel) that are used when it comes to product manufacturing: Carbon Steel Alloy Steel Stainless Steel Each of these steel grades is comprised of different amounts of iron and carbon … [Read more...]
The Real Purpose of Factory Audits? Evaluate and Prevent Risks.
I had a good discussion with a client whose background was in auditing for a Big Four accounting firm. He pointed that audits, in that context, is mostly about looking at what happened in the past. In contrast, when buyers request … [Read more...]
Tired of Your Chinese Factories’ High MOQs & Long Lead Times?
A few months back, I wrote about how some buyers can no longer put up with their suppliers' quality issues. And I often lament on the poor state of quality systems here. In this article I'd like to mention the other enormous source of … [Read more...]
Chinese Suppliers Are Getting Less Flexible. Now What?
About 6 months ago, I wrote how Chinese fabric suppliers and dyeing houses were giving headaches to the whole supply chain. It had a serious impact on Chinese apparel suppliers (many delays, higher costs, higher MOQs for … [Read more...]
The New Product Development Plan you should use to develop & make a product in China
You have a new product idea. You might also have committed customers. What is between you and success? A successfully-produced first batch of your new product. If you haven't developed new products and had them manufactured in China … [Read more...]
How To Get a List of “Good Chinese Factories”?
Hardly a week goes by without someone asking me for contacts of "good Chinese factories". We see so many of them, the thinking goes, surely we know a few good ones. When we did a few trade shows in Hong Kong, 7-8 years ago, it came up … [Read more...]
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