Manufacturing and QC blog

You’re coming to China to visit your suppliers. Maybe you've taken the time to learn a couple of phrases like “hello” and “thank you” in Mandarin, which you hope will come in handy during your trip. You may have read a phrasebook, but most of the terms they contain are academic Chinese and not really the way people normally speak day-to-day. Here are 5 simple phrases that most people actually use in everyday life.

Topics: Cultural Notes from the East

What does a “pending” result mean in a product inspection report? Regardless of which QC company you use, product inspection reports will generally have three different result categories – pass, pending or fail. While pass and fail are self-explanatory, the pending result begs the question, what exactly is “pending”? In this article, we clear up what that means and what you can do to stop them from happening. .

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

How is one supposed to go about finding suppliers in China? In this article, we break down the process of finding a supplier into 5 easy steps.

Topics: Sourcing

Do you prefer to import through a trading company or work directly with a factory to manufacture your products? Is there a way of differentiating a trading company from a factory at first glance? The truth is, it can be difficult to be 100 percent sure. However, you can get a pretty good idea by using these four indicators of a trading company in order to distinguish from one or the other.

Topics: Sourcing

An inspection report is the most valuable tool a buyer can attain when manufacturing abroad. However, many buyers don’t really take advantage of this opportunity simply because they don’t know how to. We are here to change that and teach you what to look out for in order to get the most value out of your inspection reports.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Thousands of travelers fly in and out of Hong Kong each and every day. Whether Hong Kong is your destination or if you’re there for a layover you may find yourself in Hong Kong or South China for a weekend on one of your business trips to China. Regardless of why you’re in Hong Kong, make the most of your time in one of the most exciting cities in the world by following our itinerary of recommended Hong Kong attractions.

Topics: Travel Tips & Advice

You’ve placed a few orders with a new factory, and things are going well. You’ve got the makings of a healthy supplier relationship, but what can you do to maintain and further grow the relationship in the long term? A lot of buyers if Chinese-made goods struggle to get the products they want at the quality their customers expect. Learn about four ways to work better with your supplier, not against it.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Have you been curious about China’s manufacturing landscape? Or maybe you work directly with Chinese suppliers and would like to better understand how Chinese business works. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books out there that focus on manufacturing and business in China.

Topics: Sourcing

Trade shows offer you the opportunity to discuss production capabilities and your own requirements first-hand, typically in English. But trade shows can often be a frustrating experience, especially your first time or early on. By following our 5 simple survival tips you can ensure you are putting yourself in the best position to get the most out of your valuable time while at the show. .

Topics: Sourcing

Have you ever been confronted with travel difficulties while visiting a Chinese supplier? Maybe you got lost in the middle of Guangzhou South Railway station. Or maybe the driver that was supposed to pick you up from your hotel in Shanghai never showed. Planning your China business trip can be a painful process. This is particularly true when there are multiple suppliers and different cities to visit.

Topics: Travel Tips & Advice