Manufacturing and Quality Control blog

What is a supplier review and what sets it apart from other types of factory audits? You know that factory audits are a recurring topic throughout our articles because we’re a QC company and that’s our bread and butter. However, we have never gone back to the basics and covered what a supplier is, and why it is so important. That’s why in this article, we will give you an introduction to one of most common types of factory audits in China.

Topics: Quality Q&A

You’ve contacted a supplier, ordered samples and possibly flown to China yourself to meet with your supplier. Finally, most importantly, you’ve placed an order – now what? Here are InTouch’s own four steps to make the scheduling process as easy and stress-free for the you as possible.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

What’s it like to work in a Chinese factory? Most of us that haven’t visited a factory in China probably have a less than flattering impression of what life might be like working in one. And the difficulties of working in a Chinese factory are often compounded for women. Here we look at two types of challenges women commonly face throughout their time while working in the manufacturing industry in China.

Topics: Manufacturing 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

If you ever come to China, you might be surprised to find that China has one of the most advanced and efficient transportation networks in the world. A major overhaul of the country’s infrastructure in recent decades has made traveling domestically easier and cheaper than ever. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways your China QC team is getting from point A to B.

Topics: Manufacturing Tips & Advice

Did you know that manufacturers are sometimes held criminally accountable for infractions and damages? Yesterday, the BBC reported that 41 people face murder charges related to the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh two years ago. Learn how a social compliance audit might have prevented the factory collapse and protected the manufacturer and the workers.

Topics: Quality Control News

How affective is product inspection in China really? How far does quality inspection go in making sure the products you receive meet your requirements? In this article, we’re going to be frank about the true value that quality control inspections deliver to your products. .

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

Back in March, many of us were stunned to hear about the formaldehyde scandal in North America’s largest distributor of wood flooring. A story released this past Tuesday prompted me to revisit the issue of product recalls and ways to prevent these types of issues in supply chains.

Topics: Quality Control News

Clients and potential clients approach us regularly to say they don’t just want QC alone. Rather, they also want us to check the factory’s production processes, and ensure that each is done correctly. They want us to identify and address the root cause of any issues we uncover. This is where the difference between traditional quality control services, like product inspection, and the more production-focused service known as process auditing becomes apparent.

Topics: QC Processes and Terminology