Manufacturing and Quality Control blog

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

If you’re like most savvy manufacturers, you know to watch out for changes in labor laws that could affect you in countries where you have factories, or where you sell your products. Now we want to bring your attention to legislation that could put you at risk as a manufacturer or retailer. The law is called the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act. Since taking effect in 2012, this law has forced many manufacturers to be open about their products and supply chains. In this bulletin article, we’ll tell you how to know if you’re affected and what you can do to make sure you’re compliant.

Topics: Social Compliance

Have you ever sent an approved sample to a factory for your QC inspector to have during inspection? In this article, we’ll walk you through the simple process of sealing samples to prevent tampering and when it matters.This simple yet key preventative measure is often overlooked by many new buyers. Sealing samples protects buyers from innumerable headaches and tons of unwanted costs, which eventually come about when they receive a substandard order.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

If you’re hiring a QC company to carry out product inspection, how can you trust that they’re staff is familiar with exactly how you want your product to be shipped? How can you be sure they’re actually verifying your specifications point-for-point? For answers to these pressing questions, I met with InTouch Managing Director Andrew Reich to discuss the kinds of procedures that are vital to a quality control company.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Have you ever received an inspection report from your China QC team and not been clear about the severity of a particular quality defect found in your order? If you’re like most buyers, you’ve probably had trouble being sure about a defect just by looking at a photograph in a report. You might have wished you could actually look at the defective product in person to be sure about whether or not it’s serious. Having samples of defects sealed on-site during inspections can be an invaluable resource to you as the buyer.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice