What are the different mediums importers might use to communicate with their Chinese suppliers? Select the wrong one and you'll find it more difficult to control your project, manage your suppliers, and get the outcomes that you expect...so even if, WeChat instant messages seem like an easy way to communicate, for example, after reading this you may think again before you fire off your next message there. It may seem harmless to communicate in whatever way seems easiest, but it can lead to … [Read more...]
Engineering Change Notification and Approval: a Vital Process
A lot of quality/reliability issues are the result of a poor engineering change notification & approval process or the complete lack of such a process. That's especially common in the context of OEM/ODM manufacturing. Let's uncover why... … [Read more...]
How To Build Relationships With Suppliers? [Podcast]
![How To Build Relationships With Suppliers? [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/HowToBuildRelationshipsWithSuppliersPodcast-1140x445.jpeg)
In this episode… In this series of episodes, we’re exploring how to do your own sourcing from China, from finding suppliers for your products to getting them made. Today, how to build relationships with suppliers! It includes hard skills, that we’ve already covered in episodes 1 to 4, such as identifying suppliers, negotiating terms and describing your specifications, how to manage projects, and how to check product quality. Click here to listen to those earlier episodes. However, … [Read more...]
28 Common Problems Chinese Suppliers Cause Importers
I was thinking of the most common problems Chinese suppliers cause for importers, especially those developing their own products. And I noticed something interesting. Most of them all linked to the way information is managed. … [Read more...]
Chinese Suppliers Are Getting Less Flexible. Now What?
About 6 months ago, I wrote how Chinese fabric suppliers and dyeing houses were giving headaches to the whole supply chain. It had a serious impact on Chinese apparel suppliers (many delays, higher costs, higher MOQs for fabric...). And, in turn, those suppliers got more rigid when dealing with their overseas customers. The attitude was "that's the way it is and we can't make miracles, so just get in line". That's actually an overall trend, in many industries, from what I have heard. … [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 you have designed your own product and you want it to be made in China, make sure you follow some best practices when sending the technical design files to the supplier. … [Read more...]