Over the past 3 years, I have read a number of articles pushing importers to draw a supply chain map. They argue it is extremely important, to avoid getting caught by surprise again. (And most of those articles are written by software vendors...who offer a somewhat-automated way to create such a map.) On the other hand, what is the reality for companies that buy products from China, Vietnam, or other low-cost countries? They'd sure like to have a fully detailed map of their tier-1, tier-2, … [Read more...]
How To Push a Chinese or Vietnamese Supplier for Supply Chain Transparency
As I have noted multiple times in the past, supply chain transparency, or at least the growing requirement for transparency, is a megatrend. More and more, buyers will need to know who makes the critical components, where those factories are located, and collect some additional data about those sub-suppliers. However, in the vast majority of cases, Chinese suppliers (and, to a lesser extent, those in Vietnam, too) do NOT want to disclose that supply chain information, mainly for 2 … [Read more...]
How Does Mexico Compare To China As A Manufacturing Base? [Podcast]
![How Does Mexico Compare To China As A Manufacturing Base? [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HowDoesMexicoCompareToChinaAsAManufacturingBasePodcast-1140x445.jpeg)
In this episode… Dan Harris from China Law Blog recently wrote: "Mexico is the New China" and Manufacturers are Moving There. Renaud Anjoran and Adrian from the team explore the topic of nearshoring to locations like Mexico, why it may especially suit US companies, what Mexico's manufacturing pros & cons are in comparison to China, assessing your supply chain risk, and Renaud finishes off by giving some guidance for importers who are interested in moving some or all of their … [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...]
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...]