In a previous article I described why and how a factory’s quality system can be audited. However, if you want to confirm a factory's reliability with high certainly, you might have to dig deeper. A quality audit will only focus on the … [Read more...]
China Supplier Vetting, Part 6: On-Site Social Compliance Audits
This is another article in our "supplier vetting" series. So you vetted a potential supplier through background checks and a factory quality audit. Great. You might also have to check their social & environmental policies if you are … [Read more...]
China Supplier Vetting, Part 5: On-Site Factory Quality Audits
This is another article in our "supplier vetting" series. So you asked potential suppliers a number of questions, then you visited them and noted your subjective evaluations... If you want to move further in the direction of working with … [Read more...]
China Supplier Vetting, Part 4: On-site, subjective evaluations
So you have identified a potential supplier, you vetted their reputation & legitimacy, you asked them questions before a visit... and now is time to pay them a visit in China. I will cover the different aspects of the factory that … [Read more...]
China Supplier Vetting, Part 3: Evaluating Engineering Capability
If you want to work with a Chinese manufacturer to develop a new product, you need to evaluate their engineering capability. (If you only buy off-the-shelf products, this article won't be useful.) In addition to the questions a purchaser … [Read more...]
China Supplier Vetting, Part 2: Questions to Ask Before a Visit
Let's say you found a potential supplier, you communicated a bit with them, you vetted their company's legitimacy and reputation, and you want to move forward. Generally, the next step is to ask them a number of questions that will … [Read more...]
China Supplier Vetting, Part 1: Background Checks
So you are looking for a supplier, you see some nice samples on Alibaba / Global Sources, and you would like to do a bit of research on the company before getting too deep into discussions. This is wise. More and more people have … [Read more...]
Selection of Sourcing Countries Beyond China
I am reading The Rise Of The New East: Business Strategies For An Increasingly Complex World by Ben Simpfendorfer, a consultant and economist based in Hong Kong. This book explores the region’s growing commercial opportunities and … [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...]
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...]