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

The dangers of miscommunication: 4 examples to learn from

Global Sources asked several companies to give examples of mistakes they made/witnessed. Lessons to learn!

7 Mistakes on China Factory Visits That Make You Look Inexperienced

Matt Slater, a lead auditor at SAI Global, list 7 common traps many buyer fall into. My favorite: assuming you are actually at the right factory.

Color Confusion in China Manufacturing

Jacob Yount explains why it can be so hard to get colors right. He explains what type of standard to send to the factory, and how to communicate tolerances.

US Retailers Reliant on Chinese Manufacturing, but Quality Control Required

Toys importers still can’t find an alternative to China, and are under more and more pressure to ensure they are safe. Testing laboratories will have more and more work as regulations get stricter.

Chinese Companies Reclaim “Made in China”

The share of Chinese companies in China’s total exports has been growing rapidly. It is about to surpass the share of foreign-funded companies.

What does this trend indicate? That China needs foreign firms less and less. Local competitors are better and better at reaching foreign markets. In 10 years we won’t be surprised to find some Chinese companies do proper market research and launch sleek brands in Europe and in the US.

Why Consultants Should Work on the Production Floor

In this article I wrote about the typical Chinese consultant’s way of advising companies, and why it is ineffective

Examining the Issue: A Behind the Scenes Look at Customs Inspections

For US-based readers: this article describes the Customs inspection process.