QualityInspection.org

Quality Assurance, Product Development, and Purchasing Strategies in China

How To Improve Supplier Performance? [Podcast]

In this episode... Renaud talks you through a common query that we get on a regular basis when customers ask us: "How do I get my suppliers to improve?" A recent survey of importers found that 70% said that their biggest challenge was working with suppliers to improve performance. So, with this in mind, Renaud goes through the topic based on training that he gave for European Chamber of Commerce in China members on improving suppliers with a focus on product quality, delivery times, price, … [Read more...]

Strategies For Reducing Lead Times From Suppliers In China [Podcast]

In This Episode… We discuss reducing lead times from suppliers in China or other countries in Asia like Vietnam. Lead times are the time you can expect the process of getting your order from a supplier to take, from placing the purchase order, for the supplier to obtain and check materials, manufacture the goods, and then ship them to you. There are many separate elements involved here on the supply chain and manufacturing sides and so plenty of opportunities to make improvements and reduce … [Read more...]

Why Is A PP Sample So Important? [Podcast]

In This Episode… Renaud and Adrian are discussing why a PP sample (pre-production) is so important for obtaining your desired results once your products go into mass production. What are PP samples? How do they evolve over time until they're a final 'golden' pre-production sample? What problems do they help avoid? How to specify your exact requirements? Who pays for them? These questions and more are answered in this episode!   Just hit the play button to start listening..! Listen … [Read more...]

9 Things Small Importers Can’t Negotiate With Chinese & SE Asian Suppliers [Podcast]

In This Episode... Renaud is joined by Adrian for a conversation about some of the things that smaller companies who are getting products manufactured abroad either cannot or will have great difficulty negotiating with suppliers in China, Vietnam, or other popular manufacturing destinations in Asia. This list of 9 items will give you some idea about what is realistic if you're manufacturing lower volumes.   Just hit the play button to start listening..! Listen to the episode right … [Read more...]

Importer’s ‘Supply Chain Spring Clean’ Checklist To Find Risks & Opportunities [Podcast]

Got some time on your hands during Chinese New Year while your suppliers are on holiday? In this bumper 43 minute Chinese New Year episode to keep you entertained during the holiday, Renaud & Adrian discuss tasks importers can perform to spring clean their supply chains during the CNY holiday when you might have a little extra time on your hands. The point of this episode is to provoke some thought and help you to face some of the more difficult questions and tasks that often get put … [Read more...]

The 4 Main Types of Insurance for Manufacturers in China, Vietnam, & India

When you work with a manufacturer in China, Vietnam, or India, do you wonder about the risks they run and whether they have insurance for manufacturers to protect against them? If they are hit badly, and you depend on them for continuity of supply to your customers, both you and your customers may be hit badly too. (See an example in this article where Ford Motor Company evaluated the time to recover, and the financial impact if each of their suppliers' operations is disrupted.) Here are … [Read more...]

How To Plan for Transferring Production To a New Factory: 45 Point Checklist

Many productions have been transferred to China over the past 25 years. Some are getting transferred out of China to places like Vietnam or Thailand these days. And, of course, not all Chinese factories are doing a great job, so there is a great deal of switching from one to the next. The problem is, some transfers are quite complex. There is the supplier management aspect (which I will cover in an upcoming article), and there are all the technical details to get right. I have put together … [Read more...]

7 Tips to Manage the Transfer of Production To Another Chinese Factory

There are cases where importers really need to leave a current supplier. Some situations are unlikely to improve over time, and they are even likely to get worse. I wrote about this in 7 Reasons to Switch to a New Chinese Manufacturer last week. But the next logical question is, 'How to transfer production from the current factory to the next?' and that's what I am covering here. I will also cover the right timing to break the news to the current manufacturer. It is a very sensitive … [Read more...]

7 Reasons To Switch To A New Chinese Manufacturer

Many times, importers ask me "how to control production better?", and they proceed to give me examples of the recent issues they have had with their current Chinese supplier. And I often tell them "switch to a better supplier". Now, making a switch is not always easy. It takes preparation. On the one hand, a new factory has to be identified and vetted. They need to be onboarded and trained to your requirements. They probably need to find sources, they may need to adapt their internal … [Read more...]

How To Validate Your Supplier’s Factory’s Production Capacity (From Abroad) [Podcast]

You can't visit suppliers in China due to coronavirus. How can you validate their production capacity without going on-site? As we head into 2021 travelling to see suppliers in Asia, in particular China, remains difficult for most buyers due to coronavirus restrictions. Even if you can travel, you face the risk of transit and a long mandatory quarantine period in a hotel before you're even able to conduct your business, so most buyers are staying at home for now. However, before placing an … [Read more...]