Managing quality in China is tough when you outsource production to a manufacturer (your 'supplier'). There are a number of quality management challenges to be aware of that can trip up buyers and we're sharing 9 key ones here. Thanks to … [Read more...]
China Massive Lockdowns (March 22): The Domino Effect In Full Force
China is fighting tooth and nail to contain the current wave of covid infections. And this is going to be a long and painful battle. Most people I talked to do not believe Beijing will change its "covid zero" objective anytime soon. They … [Read more...]
China’s Factories Are On A Wartime Footing Due To Covid. How Does This Affect You?
As we reach August 2021 the highly infectious coronavirus delta variant has infiltrated the country despite China’s stringent pandemic control measures. Importers may remember the disruption caused by China’s strict national lockdown … [Read more...]
Which China Sourcing Option Is Best For You? [Podcast]
![Which China Sourcing Option Is Best For You? [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WhichChinaSourcingOptionIsBestForYouPodcast-1140x445.jpeg)
In this episode… Renaud and Adrian discuss your 4 China sourcing options: commissioned agents, trading companies, third-party service providers (like Sofeast) who provide sourcing as a paid service, and doing it yourself by going direct to … [Read more...]
Buying Electronic Components In Advance In China To Avoid Further Price Hikes
Several customers have asked us for help with buying electronic components in advance recently. If you purchase electronics from China, you have certainly noticed that prices have kept rising, and in some cases, the lead times are 6 … [Read more...]
New Importer from China? Beware the Credulous Foreigner Syndrome!
After about 40 years of openness, and about 15 years of 'direct trade' without Hong Kong trading companies, one might expect that foreign buyers take more precautions when dealing with Chinese suppliers. And, to be sure, some buyers do … [Read more...]
8 Elements of a Low-Risk Supply Chain in China [Free Webinar]
Clients often ask us for assistance in improving their supply chain in China. For instance, it's common to hear that they aren't satisfied with poor quality, with missed timelines, or with unethical practices. If your supply chain is … [Read more...]
Managing Assembly for your Production in China
It often makes sense to let your supplier handle the final assembly, final testing & inspection, packing, and shipping processes (which I will collectively refer to as “assembly” in this article). Here are a few examples of cases … [Read more...]
The small buyer’s dilemma in China
Over the years, I have worked with many small and midsize importers who were looking for a good supplier. A very common question they have is "what kind of factory should I look for?". The problem is simple to grasp: Small factories … [Read more...]
10 Hard Truths For Small Buyers In China
New importers coming to China often wear rose-tinted glasses. They find nice samples and smiling salespeople at a trade show. Prices are often lower than they expected. And they reassure themselves with remarks such as "if other foreign … [Read more...]