Performing a remote audit (conducted without actually going to the factory) is nothing new. And a lot of companies have started using them because of the covid-19 pandemic. In 2013, The ASQ Quality Press published eAuditing - Virtual Communication and Remote Auditing, and much of that book’s advice is still relevant today. After all, there were already iPads and iPhones, as well as wifi connections. What’s new? There are a lot more options when it comes to hardware (typically on … [Read more...]
Sourcing From China Part 1: Sourcing Suppliers, Vetting Them, & Developing A Backup [Podcast]
In this episode… Renaud talks about sourcing with Adrian in this episode. Specifically, how to handle sourcing from China yourself. He shares tips on deciding the best fit for your business, where to search for potential suppliers, how to vet them once you have found a list, and how and why to develop a backup supplier. This is part 1 of the sourcing journey, and stay tuned as there are more to come..! Just hit the play button to start listening..! Listen to the episode right here … [Read more...]
Tips For Buyers On A Budget Who Want To Start Manufacturing In China [Podcast]
![Tips For Buyers On A Budget Who Want To Start Manufacturing In China [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TipsForBuyersOnABudgetWhoWantToStartManufacturingInChinaPodcast-1140x445.jpeg)
In this episode... You'll love this episode as it contains loads of helpful tips for buyers from China who're operating on a smaller budget from Sofeast's CEO Renaud and this week's guest, sourcing expert, Rico Ngoma from Source Find Asia. They talk you through what you really need to do and some ways to lower costs where possible, so, hopefully, you can start budgeting for what's essential and handle some things yourself. For instance, it's possible to do some due diligence on potential … [Read more...]
Pricing, Negotiation, Contracts | Vetting Chinese Suppliers (Part 10)
Getting quotations is a part of vetting new Chinese suppliers, too. We have been creating a mini-series guiding you through effective vetting of Chinese suppliers that will help you to find the best possible manufacturer for your products this year, and, as we come to the end of it, it's time to focus on one of the final stages: negotiating price, getting quotations, and signing contracts (listen back to the entire mini-series on vetting Chinese suppliers here 👍). Let's assume you have … [Read more...]
How To Perform In-Depth Due Diligence On Your Supplier [Podcast]
Do your new or current suppliers pose a risk to your business? Sometimes the only way to find out if a supplier poses a risk is to perform some deep due diligence on them in order to assess their business health and if they're able to be a stable, reliable supplier for the long-term. Especially in these times where we're dealing with a pandemic, getting a realistic picture of how suppliers are doing is hard without the ability to be on the ground in China. But there are actions you can … [Read more...]
7 Manufacturing Challenges Due To Lack Of Transparency In China & How To Mitigate Them [Podcast]
The situation in Hong Kong, the US/China trade war, mistrust of China and attempts at decoupling, and other news stories are rightfully a cause of concern for importers with Chinese suppliers. But the manufacturing challenges you should be concerned the most about are those that may prevent you from receiving the products you expect from your suppliers. These challenges can be categorized into 7 different areas and often occur due to a lack of transparency which is either intentional or a … [Read more...]
Why Conduct On-Site Social Compliance Audits? [Podcast]
![Why Conduct On-Site Social Compliance Audits? [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WhyConductOn-SiteSocialComplianceAuditsPodcast-1140x445.jpg)
In part 6 of our mini-series of podcast episodes about vetting Chinese suppliers, I'm discussing social compliance audits. After regular factory audits are done on a prospective supplier, it may make sense to assess their social compliance, too. But are these audits into things like legal practices and health & safety truly everything that they promise? … [Read more...]
The Importance Of On-Site Factory Quality Audits [Podcast]
![The Importance Of On-Site Factory Quality Audits [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TheImportanceOfOn-SiteFactoryQualityAuditsPodcast-1140x445.jpg)
In this episode of the podcast, I discuss factory quality audits as a part of the new Chinese supplier vetting process. Loosely based on this article, you'll understand where these audits fit into the vetting process and the more formal benefits that they provide when you have narrowed down potential suppliers. … [Read more...]
Vetting Suppliers In China [Podcast Series]
![Vetting Suppliers In China [Podcast Series]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/VettingSuppliersInChinaPodcastSeries-1140x445.jpg)
Vetting suppliers is important. After all, these suppliers are responsible for your company's reputation. Hopefully, everyone by now will understand the dangers of checking Alibaba or Global Sources and 'choosing' a supplier who 'looks' good, or perhaps trusting that Alibaba Gold suppliers are somehow more legitimate and trustworthy (spoiler alert: they might not be). So what does a good vetting process look like? … [Read more...]
21 Assumptions About Buying From Chinese Suppliers To Avoid
Many buyers who are seeking to manufacture products in China tend to make assumptions about buying from Chinese suppliers that are seldom valid here, and it can be quite dangerous. When I started spending a lot of time in Chinese factories, what I saw blew my mind. A foreign buyer simply can’t imagine what is sometimes going on behind the scenes. I'll say that China is the land where everything is possible... from the worst to the best. I wrote 21 common assumptions below, in categories, … [Read more...]