When sourcing a new contract manufacturer in China, what are the main questions buyers need to answer before agreeing to work together?

Renaud and Adrian cover 11 questions for buyers in this episode, especially those making electronic products (although much of this advice is relevant to many hard goods in general and suppliers in other Asian countries, too), in order to help you find a reliable and capable manufacturing partner.

 

Listen here!

Listen: to the podcast episode

Watch: on Youtube

 

Episode sections

  • 00:00 – Greetings & today’s topic: Sourcing a CM in China for manufacturing electronic products.
  • 02:10 – What is a contract manufacturer in comparison to other supplier types?
  • 06:55 – 1. What will your order quantity be? (This influences the type of CM that is suitable)
  • 09:43 – 2. Will you order a high-volume, low product mix setup, or the opposite?
  • 12:24 – 3. Do you have visibility and transparency over the supply chain?
  • 19:14 – 4. Will your Intellectual Property be protected, and how?
  • 20:48 – 5. Will they be helping to develop your product and make it compliant?
  • 23:51 – 6. What manufacturing processes does the CM have in-house?
  • 27:45 – 7. What is the CM’s QC capability?
  • 28:35 – 8. What kinds of tooling, fixtures, and jigs does the CM have for in-line testing?
  • 29:37 – 9. Who has liability for safety and compliance issues?
  • 31:00 – 10. What payment terms can they accept?
  • 32:01 – 11. What delivery terms do they provide (incoterms)?
  • 34:56 – Summary and wrapping up.

 

Related content…

 

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About Adrian Leighton

Adrian is the Sofeast group's experienced marketer and has worked in manufacturing for around a decade. He has a particular interest in new product development and sharing important manufacturing news from China.If you've read, watched, or listened to some Sofeast content, Adrian has probably had a hand in it!
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