Do your inspectors find measurements that are different from those declared by the factory? That's not uncommon if you purchase from China. Finding out the "why" is not easy. One can do a lot of 'armchair' inductive reasoning: Maybe … [Read more...]
Product Compliance 101: What Every Importer Must Know [Q&A]
Fredrik Gronkvist, based in Shanghai, is the co-founder of ChinaImportal.com, which recently launched a platform named ComplianceGate.com. In this article, you will learn what ‘Product compliance’ really means, and what you, as an … [Read more...]
How Product Specs, Sample Reviews, and QC Inspections Fit Together
We prepared a video to explain the very basic steps (defining product specifications in the form of a checklist, doing sample reviews, and sending an inspector to the factory) every importer should take before and during … [Read more...]
Real-Time Inspection Updates on Wechat/Whatsapp? Really?
More and more potential clients ask us, 'can your inspector do real-time updates, in photos or videos, on Wechat or Whatsapp?' I thought it was an interesting topic. That's one of those ideas that sound nice but that are actually bad 99% … [Read more...]
Getting China Manufacturers to Pay Certification Costs
If you want to reduce your legal risks, you might need to pay many thousands of dollars in laboratory tests and product certifications for each type of product you buy from China... For each order and re-order. If you purchase many … [Read more...]
Sampling Is an Important Part of a Random Inspection
When I go to factories I like to observe quality inspectors from buying offices or other QC agencies. Sometimes I see an inspector come in, ask the factory for a certain number of pieces, and get to "work" right away. By "work" I mean … [Read more...]
The Magic Triangle: Product Specifications, Sample Reviews, and QC Inspections
Recently I was asked what the "20% of efforts that give 80% of results" are when it comes to quality control in China. Interesting question. Well, first is to find the right supplier. That's probably the most important thing you can do, … [Read more...]
Conference for Hardware Startups in October, in Hong Kong
Global Sources has totally revamped the free conferences they run besides their trade shows in Hong Kong. They seem to primarily target hardware startups, but days 3 and 4 can be interesting to any company. Here is the new … [Read more...]
Why Improving Quality Leads to Lower Manufacturing Costs
I am tired of repeating certain things over and over when I am in Chinese factories. One of them is this: If you work on improving quality, you will cut your costs at the same time if you follow the right approach. This is nothing new. As … [Read more...]
Applying European/American Standards to Chinese Suppliers
A few days ago I published What Needs to Be Done Before Production Starts. I was careful to mention what is commonly done, not very common, or very seldom seen in Chinese factories. I guess most importers of consumer goods thought "we … [Read more...]
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