Manufacturing and Quality Control blog

There are many different frameworks you can use to conduct a social compliance audit. The questions these frameworks use and the areas they focus on also differ. In this article, we'll tell you about four common areas where we typically find social compliance infractions.

Topics: Social Compliance

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

I wanted to talk to someone relatively new to the manufacturing scene in China to see what his first impressions were of Chinese factory conditions and whether or not his expectations were met. I asked Client Manager George Huang to join me for a similar podcast interview to discuss his viewpoints on the working conditions of the factories in China he visited in recent weeks. Here is what George had to say.

Topics: Social Compliance

Have you considered some of the issues that can arise when a cookware item fails during use? Enamel can chip off. Handles on a skillet can come apart. Appliance can short circuit or catch fire. In this article, you'll learn about some of the common types of product testing commonly performed for cookware.

Topics: Special Inspection Tests

Is it easy to source products in China? Most experienced buyers of Chinese-made goods will tell you that finding a supplier that can manufacture the product you want isn’t a problem. What is frequently a challenge is finding a reputable supplier that can make a product that meets your standards. In an earlier article, we answered the compelling question, Is Sourcing in China Still Competitive? Now, we want to share with you the five steps you should take in order to begin sourcing and securing a long-term supplier in this competitive country.

Topics: Sourcing

As a buyer of manufactured goods in China, how many suppliers do you use for production? Have you ever considered your supplier development strategy? Or, maybe you don’t really have a strategy for developing suppliers. If you’re accustomed to utilizing multiple suppliers, satisfied by the benefits of their price competition in the past, are you still playing the same game in China today? Do you want to enjoy the streamlined communication and relative simplicity offered by using a single supplier?

Topics: Sourcing

Have you ever been able to visit a factory in China? Most people just have a general idea in their head of what they think a Chinese factory might look like. That idea is usually a fabrication from everything they have seen in the media, whether it is a movie or the news. The truth of the matter is that the majority of the world does not have the slightest idea of what a Chinese factory is actually like. During a recent podcast interview, one our newest hires gave us a fresh perspective as someone who had never been to China before and much less a factory.

Topics: Social Compliance

Quality control has become a key aspect of the manufacturing industry. The QC field has grown significantly over the past couple years. As the history of quality control has progressed savvy manufacturers have worked to stay up-to-date with the ever-changing standards and regulations for product quality and safety. Let’s take a brief look back at the early beginnings of QC and how it has evolved and developed over time.

Topics: QC Processes and Terminology, quality control in china, history of quality control

Trust serves as the foundation to a healthy business relationship, no matter what field in which you find yourself working. The problem arises when you need to build a trustworthy relationship with representatives of a supplier on the other side of the world who do not speak your language. Trust is necessary between a buyer and their supplier in order to survive in global business. But in China, you should be extra careful when choosing business partners. Part of being careful means carrying out product inspections, and the best way to be careful is by being having China QC.

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