In March (2021), we noted that the raw material prices of some commodities (silicone, some papers & cartons, some batteries...) went up a lot. And some analysts predict a multi-year increase in raw material prices. Bloomberg came up with an interesting article on this topic -- When Does a Commodities Boom Turn Into a Supercycle?: A surge in commodity prices has Wall Street banks gearing up for the arrival of what may be a new supercycle -- an extended period during which demand drives … [Read more...]
Why Your Product’s Final Assembly Should Be Close To Its Key Components
Every week we talk to people who have been developing a new product. And they have usually been thinking hard about the country of final assembly. Here's why it usually makes sense for the final assembly to take place near where the key components are sourced from. … [Read more...]
Importer’s ‘Supply Chain Spring Clean’ Checklist To Find Risks & Opportunities [Podcast]
![Importer's 'Supply Chain Spring Clean' Checklist To Find Risks & Opportunities [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ImportersSupplyChainSpringCleanChecklistToFindRisksOpportunitiesPodcast-1140x445.jpg)
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 End Of Just In Time Manufacturing? [Podcast]
![The End Of Just In Time Manufacturing? [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/TheEndOfJustInTimeManufacturingPodcast-1140x445.jpg)
A number of blog posts, such as this one, have been popping up lately casting doubts on whether just in time manufacturing can survive post-coronavirus. They share some pretty strong words: Recent trade tensions between the US and China, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, have highlighted that this supply chain model is increasingly untenable. Listen to this episode of the podcast to hear my take... … [Read more...]
Manufacturing in China can be risky! 10 Examples of China IP Theft
Depending on your product, it may make a lot of sense to manufacture in China (for example, for complex products that need to be developed fast). But the risks of China IP theft haven't gone away. I wanted to share a few examples here. As many manufacturers there start to feel the pinch due to orders slowing down, as their customers tighten their belts during the global coronavirus pandemic, it's only likely to get worse as some unscrupulous characters try to make a quick buck out of unwary … [Read more...]
Will China Lock Entire Provinces Down A Second Time in 2020?
In early February, I was wondering what effects the lockdown of China would have on importers. And, a few weeks later, importers suffered another (often more violent) blow: stores closed for months, a lot of unsold inventory, and weak demand across many product categories. … [Read more...]
When Should American Companies Reshore Manufacturing Or Stay In China?
In recent times it's very common to see stories about American companies scrambling to reshore manufacturing and leave China and the data seems to support this trend of reshoring or finding other locations. However, I suspect the American companies that moved to China for the wrong reasons originally are mainly the ones who are now reshoring back in the US. Is this the case, though? Let's explore this... … [Read more...]
What is the Bill of Materials and why is it important?
When a new product is developed, two sets of documents are very important: On the technical side the design deliverables (component drawings, PCB schematic…) and on the supply chain side the Bill of Materials (BOM). Let's look at the BOM and its importance here: … [Read more...]
How You Can Prepare for the ‘After Coronavirus Peak’ in the West
The COVID-19 pandemic is now clearly impacting the entire world, with heavy and unpredictable consequences. It is no longer just a Chinese issue. The problem has been 'exported'. But let's look at China first. The situation is changing 180 degrees these days! … [Read more...]
COVID-19: Have a Resilient Supply Chain, Stop JIT, Never Single-Source? Really?
I am getting tired of reading "expert commentaries" about the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on supply chains. They all seem to say the same thing, and (in my mind) they tend to overlook certain facts. Let's look at 4 commonly held truths that I disagree with. … [Read more...]
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