Outsourcing manufacturing to China can be an intimidating experience, especially if it is your first time. The same goes if you have done it before but you were only met with a lot of disappointment, frustration and more expenses. There may be a lot of pitfalls out there, but with careful research and with help from a China-based third-party manufacturing solutions provider, you might be more successful in your endeavor and avoid problems down the line. Here are seven tips to make your first or next outsourcing experience more pleasant:
1. Look for a company that speaks your language
The customer service representative have superb English communication skills, but they might not be the manufacturer. You should also mind the cultural differences, too. While you want to provide the most detailed instructions, they may not translate well and then they could end up being completely misunderstood. So, consider outsourcing manufacturing to China to a western owned and operated company.
2. Get someone to represent you there.
If you cannot travel to China personally to check the product quality, it’s important to have representatives there to work for you. In that case, look for a manufacturing solutions provider that offers quality control services. They might be able to help you choose a manufacturer, which they have personally inspected or verified.
3. Verify the manufacturer’s capabilities
Asking for samples is one way to determine the capabilities of the manufacturer. However, they might take long to send overseas to you. Or the manufacturer itself may provide an impressive sample, then disappoint you with their actual results. In that case, you can look into quality control service providers when outsourcing manufacturing to China, so you can save time, money, and effort. They will assess the factory’s systems, equipment, labor practices, operating procedures, management, and other important factors that could affect your decision to work with the manufacturer.
4. Know the minimum order quantity
Not all manufacturers in China may be flexible enough to accommodate smaller orders, as they make more profit on larger ones. So, you might be surprised with their high minimum order quantity. It can be costly or unreasonable for startups and small businesses. However, there are some companies that can deliver on a smaller MOQ. You just need to do further research. Check with western owned and run manufacturers or get help from the China-based manufacturing solutions provider from the US.
5. Ensure timely communications
Outsourcing manufacturing to China can be frustrating if the service provider cannot respond to your inquiries promptly or precisely. So, make sure that you will be working with a company that is known to respond within a reasonable amount of time and accuracy.
6. Have quality control inspections conducted during production
Even if the manufacturer has the most competent staff and high-quality equipment or machinery, those may not be enough to ensure consistent performance and results. To ensure the quality of your products, you might want to hire someone to do in-process inspection services, which will cover first article inspection, defect sorting, in-production quality control, and pre-shipment inspections.
7. Have the container loading process monitored
Container loading inspections are important if you are outsourcing manufacturing to China. They will oversee the careful loading of your products, so these will arrive to you in good condition.
