Setting Up a New Factory? First Ask What Problem You’re Really Solving [Podcast]

More companies are taking a serious look at setting up a new factory, relocating production, or bringing manufacturing back under their own control. The reasons are understandable. COVID exposed supply chain risks. Tariffs and trade policies have made some China-based … Continue reading →

Tooling delays do not usually start when steel is being cut. By that point, the design may already have been released, the tooling order placed, the deposit paid, the launch timeline shared internally, and the first sample date built into … Continue reading →

Quality control should not start when finished products come off the line. By that point, the design may already be frozen, suppliers selected, components approved, tooling made, work instructions written, and the production process set up. A final inspection can … Continue reading →

A working prototype can make a product feel almost ready for production. The design works. The team has seen it function. The customer may already be thinking about launch dates, tooling, production quantities, and delivery schedules. But a working prototype … Continue reading →

A working prototype can give a product team a lot of confidence. The device functions. The team signs it off. The design looks ready. Everyone starts thinking about tooling, production schedules, and launch dates. But then production starts, and unexpected … Continue reading →

In episode 327 of China Manufacturing Decoded, Adrian and Renaud revisit a topic that still catches many product developers and importers by surprise: What are non-recurring engineering costs, and why do they matter so much before production starts? NRE costs … Continue reading →

In episode 236 of China Manufacturing Decoded, Adrian is joined by Paul Adams from Agilian to discuss a problem that catches out many companies developing new hardware products: Why do some projects stall before they even really start? The product … Continue reading →

In episode 325 of China Manufacturing Decoded, Adrian and Renaud break down a powerful idea from Tony Fadell: “Builders build, ship, then solve what breaks.” They explore what really happens after a product hits the market, and why chasing perfection … Continue reading →

We’re rewinding one of our most popular episodes ever; breaking down the New Product Introduction (NPI) process and why it’s the difference between a smooth product launch…and a costly failure. If you’ve ever: Rushed into tooling too early Hit quality … Continue reading →

By the time some manufacturers realize the full cost picture of their new product, fixing it is expensive, and sometimes too late. In episode 323, we break down how product costing really works. You’ll see the key cost drivers, where … Continue reading →