Using Factories in China? Can You See Past the Surface?

If you are using factories in China, know that not all factories are the same.
Factories in China come in all sizes, from the high-tech manufacturing facilities to a one-room tooling shop on a side street. This is the cornerstone of producing in China. Trading companies and sourcing agencies are all coming to these factories to get your items quoted.
Not All Factories in China Look-Alike
If you are sourcing a new factory for either an open market product or to manufacture your own designs, you should be aware of the following:
First, not all factories are going to look like high-tech automotive assembly plants. If you go into a plant with this mindset, you will never determine whether that factory is able to make your product.
For example, a decorative cast iron factory is going to be acres of hot sand and molds where metal is hand poured into sand. They are hot, dirty and loud. But if the production process is efficient and care is taken to knock off the “flash” or extra bits of metal, that is a good sign. Follow this with good painting technique and, for this type of product, you may have a winner.
However, if you are looking for an electronics assembly plant you should look for clean assembly lines and very detailed quality control procedures.
Analysis of the Plant
Look beyond the plant. Obviously, if you see extreme violations such as child labor, leave immediately. If a factory is small and “messy” it can still produce great products. Look carefully at the flow process, from creation through prototyping, assembly, quality control, and packing. A good factory will be happy to show you each stage.
For more information: newvision-asia...
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My name is Chris Folino. In 2000 I founded a sourcing agency, Newvision Asia Ltd.
I have managed hundreds of millions of dollars in purchase orders and overseen tens of thousands of skus from China.
After returning to the U.S. my interest in sourcing has evolved into the desire to teach others how to successfully source from China.
To learn how to protect yourself and make more money when sourcing from China check out: newvision-asia...
Buying and sourcing from overseas will never end, but it does evolve. I look forward to educating you on the sourcing process and keeping you up to date on the changes happening in the Chinese sourcing market.
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