QualityInspection.org

Quality Assurance, Product Development, and Purchasing Strategies in China

9 Things Small Importers Can’t Negotiate With Chinese & SE Asian Suppliers [Podcast]

In This Episode... Renaud is joined by Adrian for a conversation about some of the things that smaller companies who are getting products manufactured abroad either cannot or will have great difficulty negotiating with suppliers in China, Vietnam, or other popular manufacturing destinations in Asia. This list of 9 items will give you some idea about what is realistic if you're manufacturing lower volumes.   Just hit the play button to start listening..! Listen to the episode right … [Read more...]

Getting To Grips With Non-Recurring Engineering Costs (NRE) [Podcast]

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss Non-Recurring Engineering costs for manufacturers. As the name suggests, these costs are usually one-off and are what it takes to get your product into production. These costs are perhaps better known as R&D costs, and it's important to get to grips with them as they have a great impact on your product's sale price, as well as the feasibility of manufacturing it in the first place. It's fair to say that the NRE costs often turn out to be more … [Read more...]

7 Common Plastic Injection Mold Tooling Development, Approval, & Maintenance Pitfalls [Podcast]

Tooling is a large investment for any manufacturer, so what do we need to be wary of..? Andy Bartlett, an experienced British product designer who has 25 years of experience in product design, development, and working with manufacturers in China, returns to join us again on the podcast for a lively discussion about the kinds of issues and common pitfalls that can come up when developing, approving, and maintaining tooling for your plastic injection molded products. You'll learn why supplier … [Read more...]

Is Investing In Process Automation In The Factory Worth It? + Implementation Best Practices [Podcast]

Automation is a major focus of the Chinese government and many manufacturers here, but can it really reduce costs..? Renaud will answer the questions: "Is Investing In Process Automation In The Factory Worth It?" and "What are the best practices to follow to smoothly transition into more automation?" Without a doubt, increasingly automating processes features highly in the future of manufacturing, but there are right and wrong ways to implement automation. Also, while replacing multiple … [Read more...]

Exploring Manufacturing and New Product Development in Vietnam [Podcast]

Vietnam continues to be a popular alternative to China for today's importers. Let's explore it... Renaud interviews Simon Caballero, a Hanoi-based purchasing manager and expert on manufacturing in Vietnam, to discuss the manufacturing industry in Vietnam, common risks and issues you will face when manufacturing garments there, and the relationship between developing new products and manufacturing in Vietnam and China. Simon, originally from Barcelona, Spain, has a background in logistics and … [Read more...]

How We Set Up A New Factory In China From Idea To Operation [Podcast]

Planning on opening a factory in China in 2021? To get some insight into just what it takes to set up a new factory in China let's explore how WE came to open our own factory, Agilian Technology, there in 2018! Renaud will explain the reasoning behind doing so, the goals, and the 6 phases we followed in order to make the idea of having a contract manufacturing subsidiary a reality. This will give you food for thought and help you start planning the project as it's possible you won't have … [Read more...]

A New ‘Cold War’ Between The USA & China’s Effect On Manufacturing [Podcast]

As tensions rise between China and the USA, is a new 'Cold War' brewing? If so, what effect is this or could this be having on manufacturing? Adrian from Sofeast and myself go political in this episode, discussing how the political rhetoric and actions towards China by the USA and other Western nations are on a downward trend and how the media seem to encourage this, too. Renaud posted this recent Forbes article which suggested that Americans polled would be prepared to pay 20% more for … [Read more...]

Importer’s ‘Supply Chain Spring Clean’ Checklist To Find Risks & Opportunities [Podcast]

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...]

Richard Barnett | Electronics Supply Chain Risk Management in 2021 [Podcast]

Let's hear from an electronics supply chain expert about how to improve supply chain resilience and reduce risks... Richard Barnett of Supplyframe, an expert in electronics supply chains with decades of experience in Asia,  joins Adrian to discuss risk management & reduction in the global electronics supply chain. After the year many importers of electronics had in 2020, reducing risks, improving supply chain agility and resilience, and planning ahead as standard has now become more … [Read more...]

Could Rising COVID-19 Cases In China Before CNY ‘21 Affect Supply Chains? [Podcast]

What would YOU do if lockdowns in China over Chinese New Year threatened your supply chain..? As cases climb in Northern China there's a very real threat that tightening restrictions could affect supply chains in China. In this episode, Adrian and Renaud discuss the situation on the ground in China and Hong Kong as of January 28th, with Chinese New Year fast approaching on February 12th. CNY is a difficult time for importers as it is, as manufacturers tend to be closed for weeks and … [Read more...]