I listed the 6 ways Chinese suppliers cheat importers a few years ago. But, with proper due diligence, the risk of being cheated outright goes down a lot. The major risks that experienced importers run, when working with a new … [Read more...]
Why Do Most Chinese Dislike Processes?
I have written many times that most Chinese people are not process thinkers. By this I mean they tend not to spend time thinking of HOW to do something: what steps should we follow, what resources do we need, what results should we expect, … [Read more...]
8 Ways to Prevent Chinese Suppliers from Subcontracting
I wrote before that the vast majority of Chinese manufacturers routinely subcontract some orders. The problem is, they usually do it without disclosing the reality to their customer. Why do they subcontract production to another factory? … [Read more...]
How to Send Good Design Files to Chinese Manufacturers
In the past, I explained how to structure a product specification sheet to ensure the supplier knows what is expected regarding the finished product. However, proper communication with Chinese manufacturers should start much earlier. If … [Read more...]
Chinese Supplier Background Check: How useful is it?
I wrote before about ways to run a background check on a Chinese company. We recently had an interesting experience and it serves as an interesting example for those buyers who are afraid of lies and trickeries so common in this part of the … [Read more...]
Are ISO 9001 Certified Suppliers the Best in China?
Here are some interesting or useful articles that I found recently. Quality Management Systems in China Explained Fredrik Grönkvist asked me the following questions about certifications to the ISO 9001 standard (and to other QMS … [Read more...]
Reset your Mental Models when Buying in China
Every year, tens of thousands of new businesses start purchasing directly in China. And many of them have a bad first experience. The key to successful China sourcing is not a set of tools -- it is primarily a change in mental … [Read more...]
5 building blocks for developing good Chinese suppliers
Last week, I was happy to moderate a seminar organized in Shenzhen by the European Chamber. The three speakers, who were kind enough to come and expose the programs they use for developing good Chinese suppliers, represented very diverse … [Read more...]
24 questions to ask during a Chinese factory visit
If you spend time in a factory visit, don't just record the information given to you. Prepare your questions! Here's what you should be asking during a Chinese factory visit... … [Read more...]
Auditing a small Chinese factory: does it make sense?
I see some well-meaning importers who pay for factory audits based on a checklist inspired by the ISO9001 standard. However, I am really questioning the value of auditing a small factory (below 400-600 workers). Don't get me wrong, I am … [Read more...]
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