Here are some interesting or useful articles that I found recently.

Linking Factories to the Malls, Middleman Pushes Low Costs

Giant sourcing company Li & Fung could well be the next company under the spotlight for (un)ethical sourcing issues.

Over the last few years, the main target was Apple. But, when compared to Apple, Li & Fung is:

• Much less transparent about the factories it works with;
• Linked to worse cases, especially over the last two years.

Read this good, in-depth article from the New York Times if you are curious about their organization.

Views from the Factory: What Do Chinese Manufacturers Really Think About Environmental Protection?

Do most factory owners care about the environment? Are they even aware of what hurts the environment? The unsurprising response is no. As long as they are not directly killing anybody, they have good conscience.

But things are changing. Mentalities are evolving, thanks to the higher education younger managers have received. But it is a slow process.

In the meantime, the government is introducing quotas on carbon emissions (this is still at a pilot stage in a few cities). They know that better education won’t be enough!

Selecting China suppliers not for the ill prepared 

Etienne Charlier describes an example of an inexperienced buyer that made several big mistakes on a large order.

In the end that importer was lucky — he was dealing with unprofessional but honest parties. It doesn’t always end that well…

China’s Dominance in Manufacturing—in One Chart

What percentage of the world’s personal computers are assembled in China? And how about photovoltaic panels, shoes, and pork?

It’s all show in that chart.

Apple Outsources Work To China, Says “Skills Have Left The US”

For large-scale, complex, and time-sensitive manufacturing projects, China is often the only option.

Especially when air shipments can be afforded…

How to conduct a product quality inspection in a China factory (Checklist)

I wrote advice for buyers who want to check their production themselves: what to start with, how many cartons to pick, an so on.

You will even get a template in Word format!