We’ve all heard about the manufacturing boom in China. From sofas and tables to toys and necklaces, there is nothing that isn’t produced in China.
If you’re a company or individual looking to manufacture items or products, China is likely to be top of mind. After all, nothing beats the quality and price of Chinese manufacturing.
But before you get started, you likely have a lot of questions. How is quality control handled? Who takes care of sourcing? What about certifications?
If you’ve been curious about getting started with China manufacturers, keep reading. Below, we answer 7 of the most popular questions for china manufacturing companies.
1. What Are the Services Offered?
When it comes to manufacturing, rarely is it a one-stop process.
You will likely require a range of services from your manufacturers, so it is better to check in with them on their services. This will ensure that you opt for a provider with all the related services-in house that you can benefit from.
Some standard services you should look for when it comes to manufacturers include:
- Supply chain management
- OEM assembly
- China quality control
- Supplier verification and factory audits
- Quality control
- Product design and development
Ideally, you want a provider that offers all of the abovementioned services, like China2West!
2. What Is Your System for Inspection and Quality Control?
Be sure to ask your manufacturers about inspection and quality control.
You can ask about when they inspect – before shipment, during production, or after delivery to customers? The more details they can provide about quality control, the better.
They should also have a system for dealing with defective or non-conforming items that may be discovered at any point.
Since every manufactured unit has value, understanding inspection and quality control systems will be critical. If your provider is able to offer transparent systems and solutions for this critical area of manufacturing, you should be good to go.
3. What Is Your Area of Expertise?
The next question to ask China manufacturers is their area of expertise. This will help you decide if they are the right fit for you.
For example, if you’re looking for manufacturing services, your provider’s area of expertise should ideally be in products. Whether you’re looking for off-the-shelf products, complex products, metals, or electronics, your provider should be able to help you with this.
It is better to know this upfront than to find out later that your manufacturer’s expertise lies in a service you don’t require.
4. Do You Have a Minimum Order Quantity?
MOO or minimum order quantity is essential. Typically, the more units you order, the less it will cost on the manufacturing end.
However, Chinese manufacturers often compete for business, so you may be able to negotiate a lower price. Understanding their minimum order quantity will be helpful, as you will be able to decide if the amount makes sense for you or not.
You will also be able to run financials and decide if the quantity will result in excessive stock or just the right amount for your needs.
5. How Do You Manage New Product Projects?
Be sure to ask your Chinese manufacturing partner how they manage new projects. This will be very telling, as project management is one of the most challenging parts of the manufacturing process.
Many manufacturers fail to meet shipment dates and don’t have enough clarity and visibility on the product timeline. When selecting a supplier, try to verify if they have an experienced team and proper systems and processes to handle your needs in time.
The more experienced and timely they are, the more likely you will have proper support for all your manufacturing needs and wants.
6. How Does Your Pricing Work?
Your manufacturer likely gave you pricing information already.
But some providers may add extra costs or increase rates due to ups and downs in the manufacturing process, which is normal and part of the process.
You need to ensure that your provider is transparent about how their pricing works. If the quote is different from what was promised, you should be able to ask for a full breakdown to better understand why your pricing has changed.
This will also ensure that the supplier trusts you and that they are not trying to hide some margin. By asking about pricing up front, you will also avoid working with manufacturers who are unwilling to provide a breakdown of their BOM or bill of materials.
7. How Do You Protect Customers’ IP (Intellectual Property)?
Intellectual property or IP is critical when it comes to products and services.
IP protection is thus critical when you work with a manufacturing partner. You could also talk about how they have protected past clients’ IP in the past and if they have systems and policies in place to support this.
Some companies will also sign a non-disclosure agreement or NA, although this is not always enough protection or necessary.
Get Started with China Manufacturers Today
You’ve put your blood, sweat, and tears into developing a new product. You’ve conducted research, figured out materials, and even started prototyping.
The following process stage is finding the right supplier to bring your product to life. Regarding this critical step, China manufacturers can come in especially handy.
We hope this article helped clarify some questions you may have had about Chinese manufacturing. If you’re looking for simple manufacturing and sourcing options, you must check C2W for simple and quality solutions.
Click here to check out our services today!
