Dealing with Production Problems in China

Have you ever dealt with production problems, sub-standard goods or an unacceptable delay? Perhaps even a project that came to a full stop without warning. Follow these tips to help overcome production problems with your Chinese suppliers.

Keep a representative or local third party inspector on site in the factory. This is the only way you really know what is going on. You need someone who protects your interests on site. Mawson Global’s on the ground team will make sure our client’s needs are understood and acted on by supplier management.

Monitor progress closely. Shaking hands typically is not enough to ensure production will move along at a satisfying pace. More importantly, if you notice a factory is not moving in the right direction for even a few days, contact them immediately and try to understand why.

Complete a quality assurance check prior to any shipment. Even if you have a small order, any set back during production may have resulted in rushed production. Overall, not doing a final inspection prior to shipping will be more expensive than getting a third party to ensure that the products fit your quality guidelines.

Most of the production issues arise from selecting the wrong supply partner.  Make sure you are as important to the supplier as they are to you!  You can do this by selecting someone who is a similar size to your company, by making the time to personally visit the factory and by involving the supplier in your long term plans.

Mawson Global helps clients by developing and implementing strategies that remove the risk of sub-standard quality and that form lasting relationships with suppliers to ensure projects are completed on time at the right cost.

Canton Fair April & May 2015

If you or one of your clients is going to the Canton Fair later this month please let us know so we can see if there is anything we can do to help.

Here is a little more information about the fair for your interest.

The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is the oldest and most comprehensive trade event of its kind. It’s a showcase of more than 24,000 of China’s corporations. And it’s something your company may want to attend if it’s interested in partnerships with Chinese suppliers.

The Canton Fair is held each spring and fall in Guangzhou, China and includes a broad array of foreign trade companies, manufacturers, research institutes, private organizations, as well as foreign-invested and wholly foreign-owned companies. Since its inception in 1957, the fair has become a platform for the movers and shakers of China’s import and export industry.

The fair is an excellent way to get an appreciation of just how many products you can source from China.  If sourcing products direct from Chinese suppliers is on your radar for this year, or the near future, you should seriously consider making the trek for this biannual event.

While the fair is a great showcase we do not recommend it as the place to source long term supply partners as most of the exhibitors at the fair will be commission agents and distributors.  So visit the fair to get ideas and contacts then make sure you do your homework on the suppliers you intend to trust your business success with.

Navigating the Canton Fair and travels through China can be a challenge, especially for those who’ve never been to the country. Mawson Global can provide support before, during, and after travels to the country to companies in need of assistance. We can also act as a liaison during the fair and ensure your organization finds a long-term supplier, rather than a short term agent.

For more information on Mawson Global’s travel support services, as well as sourcing assistances, please visit our website or call 1300 723 246.

Importing: The Productivity Booster

Productivity.  It’s essential to success. It can be elusive. And it’s the driving force behind businesses -- literally. Without it, the world would crumble and nothing would ever get done. Without it your company wouldn’t exist.

Productivity is vital to all businesses, but it’s especially important to those in global commerce. To be successful, manufacturers need to bring products to market quickly, ensure on-time delivery, provide outstanding customer service, and maintain their market share. A high level of productivity is required to accomplish all these initiatives.  

There are a lot of methods for increasing manufacturing productivity – from restructuring the workforce to reworking procedures. However, one of the best ways to up the output is by importing manufacturing machinery.

Importing machinery can make a plant more efficient at a fraction of the cost of local machine brokers. It can also be accomplished a lot faster than other methods and with minimal disruption, especially when importing fully complete sub-assemblies.

By looking to equipment suppliers in other areas of the world, manufacturers can often find a larger selection of machines, lower prices, and better customer services. However, locating qualified international suppliers can be a challenge, especially for those with limited resources to devote to the search. These limitations don’t have to prevent you from importing your equipment, though.

Mawson Global, a leader in global sourcing, has a proven method for helping manufacturers import machinery and components. Need a supplier of sanding equipment or corrugated cardboard box maker? Mawson Global can perform a comprehensive search and provide you with supplier recommendations that meet a company’s exact requirements.

With Mawson Global, the risks commonly associated with global sourcing are minimal because we have teams located around the globe. This “boots on the ground” approach means we’re familiar with the international standards, language, and culture of each of the countries we source from.

If your manufacturing company is searching for a way to boost its productivity without having to decrease it first, Mawson Global can help. Let us handle the search for your machinery supplier. With our assistance, your business can not only improve its output, but also slash costs and increase its profit.