Hidden Commissions & Kickbacks: How Chinese Agents and Traders Quietly Erode Your Margin [Podcast]

In episode 306 of China Manufacturing Decoded, Adrian and Renaud tackle a “dirty secret” of China sourcing that many importers would rather not think about: hidden commissions and kickbacks quietly eating into their margins. They unpack how agents and trading … Continue reading →

In this article, I will explain the difference between reliability validation testing and end-of-line quality control, because they are often mixed up when people talk about reliability testing vs quality control, yet they address very different risks.

A common pattern we see: a startup hires several low-hourly-rate freelance hardware engineers (mechanical, electronics, and/or firmware engineers) from different countries like Jordan, Pakistan, Vietnam, etc. Work seems to progress…until it doesn’t. Typical failure modes include: Designs that can’t be … Continue reading →

Switching between Chinese manufacturers is not a decision for businesses to take lightly. There is clearly a beneficial reason or reasons to want the move, such as improved quality or prices, but the transition process is risky. Here we’ll highlight … Continue reading →

As we always say, doing due diligence on your Chinese manufacturers is really important for ensuring smooth cooperation and long-term problems if you do decide to work together. Here are 8 red flags that, if exhibited by your Chinese supplier, … Continue reading →

Let’s say that you’re an entrepreneur or business that has designed a new product that has a healthcare application and you want it to be compliant with some common medical requirements (this would seem to make sense due to the … Continue reading →

Many importers who outsource their manufacturing or buy products off-the-shelf from Chinese manufacturers do so on a ‘buyer beware’ basis. There’s an almost unspoken belief that if things go wrong, it will be very difficult or even impossible to get … Continue reading →

The Build-Operate-Transfer model can be a beneficial approach for larger businesses that are looking to start manufacturing products in a new location while shielding themselves from some of the typical risks faced when setting up a new factory from scratch. … Continue reading →

If you’ve been sourcing suppliers from China for any length of time you will know that there is a very wide range of pricing options. Cheap Chinese suppliers may be attractive, but with lower prices comes a unique set of … Continue reading →

Some companies get to the point where they need plastic injection molds for their innovative product, typically for the enclosure and maybe a few plastic internal parts. Here are 8 tips for actions you should take before you confirm a … Continue reading →