I see buyers who spend a lot of time pushing their suppliers to do QC inspections on incoming components, to keep the production area clean, to give clear instructions to operators, and other basics. But I seldom hear them push for traceability in manufacturing, despite how important it is. I thought I should write about it again. … [Read more...]
Chinese- vs. Japanese-Owned Factories in the US: Main Differences
A journalist contacted me and inquired about the differences between Chinese-owned factories (a new phenomenon) and Japanese-owned factories in the context of new plants set up in the US. Interesting topic. Not unsurprisingly, Chinese investors chase low wages and high state incentives. As a result, several Chinese-owned factories are established in Alabama. Let's take the example of a copper tubing factory that employees about 200 people. Here are a few interesting quotes: “Individualism is … [Read more...]
7 Common Mistakes Revealed by Factory Org Charts
One of the first things we look at, during factory audits, is the organization chart. And it often points to serious operational dysfunctions. The ISO 9001 standard does not require an org chart to be prepared (it only asks for the definition and communication of authority lines). It is a very common document, though, and many Chinese manufacturers fall into the same pitfalls. Mistake 1: not having a quality department Most small workshops don't have personnel dedicated to checking quality … [Read more...]