Manufacturing and Quality Control blog

Importers should expect Chinese New Year to disrupt their supply chain for at least a month, as workers leave early and factories require time after the holiday to ramp up production again.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice, Working with Factories

Having communication problems with your supplier? Perhaps the factory doesn’t understand your requirements. Or maybe your factory contact is slow to communicate or altogether unresponsive.These nine tips will help you start improving communication with your Chinese supplier now.

Topics: Working with Factories

Defective products that reach customers can sink your importing business, fast. That’s why experienced importers seek to limit product defects before disaster strikes. But how can you take the first steps towards fewer product defects and improved product quality?

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice, QC Processes and Terminology, Quality Control Checklist

Manufacturing a quality product starts with using quality materials and components. That’s why it’s vital to catch any quality issues in parts and materials before production starts with incoming quality control.

Topics: Product Inspection, incoming quality control

Don’t wait until FDA inspectors arrive at your supplier’s factory to uncover GMP compliance issues. We’ve written an eBook, GMP Compliance of Foreign Suppliers: The Importer’s Guide, to help you and your suppliers assess FDA inspection readiness before it’s too late.

Topics: Auditing Factories, Working with Factories, GMP compliance

You might already be familiar with how during production and pre-shipment inspections can help you verify product quality. But depending on your product, you might also benefit from a more proactive type of inspection known as first article inspection (FAI).

Topics: Product Inspection, pre shipment inspection, during production inspction, first article inspection

Never assume your supplier will automatically take the steps to protect your products with the appropriate packaging. Ensure your packaging meets your quality standards and protects your products by conducting a package drop test.

Topics: Product Inspection, Packaging

Don't know the difference between product testing and product inspection? Let's explore the difference between these two quality management options available to you and see how they might fit into your quality control plan.

Topics: Product Inspection, QC Processes and Terminology

Packaging testing in a certified lab can help you solve persistent packaging quality problems and save your products from getting damaged during shipping and handling.

Topics: Packaging, lab testing in china

Does sourcing in Taiwan carry the same business risks and challenges as in mainland China? Learn more about key differences of manufacturing in Taiwan vs. mainland China in this article!

Topics: Sourcing, Working with Factories