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The definitive guide for MFG/QC issues and what you ecommerce sourcers and inventors must know

Niptuck MD

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First of all, it was great to meet all the focused INSIDERS at the 2018 summit. Especially @MJ DeMarco @Chitown @million$$$smile Im glad that you all got to meet me; I haven't been too active on the forum but thanks to @LightHouse challenge at the summit to make a GOLD/NOTABLE thread that has changed.... with this post...

Through my years of traveling through many plants dealing with numerous big corporations engineering and supply chain departments, and resolving their problems at a grander more complicated scale
the key takeaway that I bring to you all from that realm to this IS......!

DUE DILIGENCE

is something that we neglect but is ever so needed and despite all of the fluff out here on the internet, it is difficult to process all of that while trying to maintain a job to pay bills, take care of home life/family and while establishing your business and dream.... But it has to be done. and the best way for that is to meet people that have access to that sort of information that can easily pinpoint you to what you need to know. I hope to fill that need with this guide in these topics;

The favorite strategy of factories (in the eastern world) that don’t want to correct problems is… to wait. And wait. Until their customer (who needs to deliver his own customers) must let them ship.

YOU GUYS (BIG OR SMALL) That source must lead the way (unfortunately) and have these focused dialogues with your suppliers. It will only do your firms good.

WARNING; there are going to be a lot of acronyms and abbreviations going forward so I hope this primer will educate or inform all of you at a nominal level.

-Supplier Quality Issues (conformance, product quality issues, raw materials sourcing issues)
-Manufacturing process and batch quality conformance (often times due to time restraints and meeting ROP (rates of production) the suppliers suppliers' (suppliers that supply to your supplier components for means of production) doesn't check product defect rates through a quarterly held quality process called PPAP (production part approval process) and a short formed version called PSW (part submission warrant)

-Manufacturing issues that the suppliers may not reveal to you (due to lack of communication, time differences, lack of communication between themselves at the plant)

-from prototype (initial product) Design To ===> manufacturing
this should help those of you that have NPD (new product developments) that either have an idea or prototype already created that you would like made (this prototypes may or may not be viewed as a digitized CAD (computer aided design) model. you would be surprised at the levels of agony that even big corporations engineering and materials departments go through on a daily level for ANY type of components due to lack of communication and or misinterpretation of information and specifications (specs)

- How to deal with reoccurring defects despite time lost on previous batches
In other words, factories especially in China do not believe in a westernized term called RE-WORK. They have enough human capital to dump large batches just to keep the production lines moving 24/7.

If they stalled halfway trough your production, or after substandard quality was detected, there is a reason. Here are the three most common types of issues:

-1- They are giving priority to another customer who is bigger than you… or who is better at defending his interests. You will have to guess by yourself. Once again, having someone on site helps–you can see what is on the lines and understand the situation.

-2- They have a technical problem that prevents them from producing your order, and they tell you it is impossible. If you have some technical experience, you might be able to help you.

In some cases it is simply a matter of common sense. For example, this week I sent a technician to see why a factory could not press a plastic label properly on the product. She used different temperatures and timings, and she found a solution after 5 tests. It took less than an hour. Sometimes we wonder “why didn’t the factory do this?”

-3- They think your conditions/penalties are not fair (for example you ask them to pay for air freight when they are “only” ten days late).

You will know right away if you are in this situation: they will tell you clearly. It requires a negotiation. The better prepared you are, the easier it will be.

and most important of all to take away from this initial post is what @SteveO said as a general means of approaching negotiations DONT GET EMOTIONAL.

Yet, with any factory -- overseas or domestic it is ESSENTIALLY important to stay on top of quality control because mistakes happen and shortcuts are made no matter where the factory is located. There are many intricate details when manufacturing in China and for small time business that don't have resources or the ability to get onsite for ensuring the quality and accuracy of the manufacturing of our goods along the process. Due diligence is your friend..... The cost is minimal and the benefits are priceless.

Despite the fact that It may (ahem 90% of the time) is there fault, they don't know. they are trying their best; Hopefully ya'll got a little more awareness from @Arrabista presentation on open mindfulness and cultural gaps/differentiation.

I hope you guys will benefit from this its just some way I thought on my plane ride back to add value to TMFF.

Feel free to PM me (as others have done) I promise to get back to you to the best of my availability.
 
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Niptuck MD

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So we begin with

Supplier Quality Issues

Due to the fact that many of your sourcing fastlaners source a myriad of products from Alibaba (as assumed mostly) and or HKTDC I will try to keep this generic. For those of you that use Thomas-net, feel free to PM me about what issues you all may have had reoccurring or non-reoccurring.

For those of you that source from suppliers on Alibaba or HKTDC this may help you deal with some issues that you may have. IRRESPECTIVE of what you are sourcing;

when you are selecting a supplier for your product, always SKYPE Them first. They can put whatever they want on alibaba and when you open up an inquiry or an RFQ (request for quotation) they will try and hawk you on emails or WhatsApp messages. By Skyping with them you will get a better sense of where they are at and at the same time they will get a sense of where you are at. A lot of suppliers will act as if they will only cater to orders of mass quantities 1000-5000-10000, so for those that are starting of small (i.e <1000) be very aware of your position. I don't want to reiterate or step on anything that is not on @Walter Hay guide. but I think this information will go hand in hand from what happens after you find a supplier that will cater to your batch needs.

When you Skype with your initial suppliers, try and get past the face. Usually the more reputable suppliers will select whom they believe is the best English speaker(s) of their team or department to interact with new inquiries and RFQ's... Often times these individuals have no idea of what goes on down below in the production facilities. They may not have any knowledge of production quality measures neither. To keep the story short, they will not help you after you have gone through with your RFQ. you need to establish a direct relationship whether it be continuous email or Skyping and (if you can) get over there physically (wherever your supplier maybe) with the leader of production or an overseer (quality manager, quality engineer etc etc) somebody that can understand the lingo and what you are exactly looking for to ensure the least defective processes made for your respective products that you are manufacturing.

I will try and illustrate the complexities and what all goes through a batch environment or manufacturing process with a basic item from alibaba (since most of you source from alibaba).

NOTE (this will differ with Thomas net manufacturers)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For example, let us say that you are sourcing a simple product. Bumper guard (an automotive
accessory component)

High Quality Steel Front Bumper Guard With Led For Ford Ranger 2015 - Buy Steel Bumper,Car Front Bumper Guard,Front Bumper Guard Product on Alibaba.com

you can see this is a supplier has a relatively low min order.... you can assume from the start that this is a medium to small manufacturing facility.

but furthermore, if you see the images, of the actual product you will find that this product uses (A) some form of raw material casting (often times coated for visuals) and (B) a manufacturing machining process (or processes if laser engraved or welded/ brazed etc etc) at a minimum.

For those that begin to find suppliers for this example, they should inquire about these processes and what materials are used. (I know from enough experience that all automotive manufacturers/suppliers in china use some form of casting basic Stainless Steel from one of the numerous foundries nearest to them....) then they will go through the process of powder coating or polishing it, welding it and or brazing it to the prints specs etc etc.....

what YOU guys WONT know until you obtain a sample or if you get a large batch and find out from your customers is the quality of the steel and or defects that may come from a MANPROS (manufacturing process i.e laser cutting, laser engraving, welding, brazing, joining, CNC machining etc) and or from the RAW material source (the foundry in this example)

Defects come and go from a myriad of things; But there are tools that quality engineers/personnel utilize to hone in and zone in on what may be the RC (root cause or root causation)

So running with this example of the bumper guard, you want to get an overview of the product and how it is machined and or made... you want to make sure you get defect rates of past batches ran THAT SAME QUARTER or YEAR. The quality leads of ANY REPUTABLE FACTORY must have these at their disposal (may take a day or two to get but they should have it on hand)

All of these such documentations are held in what is called a Plant Information Management System or PIMS.

Any reputable factory big or small that produces different SKUS for their customers will have to have one to store their prints, their PPAPs (production part approval processes) documentation and metrics, plans and methods.

Often times in china, they may not have ALL of the required specifications and documentations but they will have some. And this is where the fun begins....

Going with the same example,
the listing states

Screen Shot 2018-02-19 at 1.02.47 PM.png

pay close attention to the tabs 3-9

3) material: STEEL (doesn't specify which type of steel but more on that later)
4). weight (8kgs) this should be in accordance to the print they have on file
5) "excellent fitment, easy installation you guys would be surprised this isn't always necessarily true
6) DESIGN: OEM/ODM/Customized designs are highly welcome (the last part (customized designs are highly welcome) should be translated for you guys as Ya'LL GET READY FOR A COLONOSCOPY or something of the likes of an IRS Audit ) this is one of the 3 major pitfalls in design to manufacturing issues
7) Inspected (are they " highly inspected the GEL-COATING" or all aspects of the components (the initial casting, the inspection or affirmation of tolerances after each machining process etc etc)
8) gurantee: (1 years on the overall product OR,
9) this is the KICKER Quality: well and high quality control ; (you guys are going to find out after you start asking the questions I will show you and figure out just how relevant their QC (quality and qualitative control) measures really are
 
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Niptuck MD

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Continued from above;

So as you can see, there is already a generic idea of how many of the suppliers on the top page of Alibaba are displaying their pages; only when you zoom in with a 20X and start probing around you begin to unravel their true attention to detail and stance on manufacturing perfection batches for you.

Often times due to other customers that are producing much larger batches then you (initially) they cater to them first; but a wise old man once told me “only the squeaky wheel gets oil”
You being a customer must not back down from your products’ importance on THEIR pecking order.
Especially for you establishing sourcers and ecommerce starters, THEY may be able to afford to lose your business, but you cannot afford to lose TIME nor MONEY on wasted samples and or defective merchandise.

With that being said, if they are hesitant to get you details or show you how their processes are end communication. Do not waste time further.
However if they do get you details, you are on the right track. Again, they may take some time but be patient, it will be worth it trust me.

Throughout this thread i will be showing more examples and will try to incorporate more visuals to help explain this topic further.

Below is the 4 levels of Chinese factories

DA0ED513-9CCB-4F9E-92A0-80F80A095EDD.png


To be contd.
 
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Niptuck MD

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The first question to get an answer to is: “Is this particular supplier ABLE to make the product I need?” A reputable supplier will tell you if they are able to make a product in compliance with your requirements. However, many poor suppliers will bluff there way into your business, hoping to get away with it once you have placed an order or RFQ.

To be able to make your product, a supplier needs each and all of these:

—The right production equipment and tools on the shop floor;

—The right test equipment and measurement instruments on the shop floor to verify quality and tolerances;

—Experience in purchasing the material or commercial parts required in your product;

—Workers with the right skills, and in some case, with right certifications (e.g. welding)

— Real experience in a similar product or technologies


Only you know your own industry and you know which equipment and tools are key. You also probably know what type of testing and measurement are required. If you dont know ASK someone that does know. (Hence more AWARENESS DUE TO DUE DILIGENCE)

883F1E07-0B18-46A7-AAD0-C94F98D980A6.jpeg 3DD77D56-9228-437E-9E17-B4537752BC06.jpeg


Here are some typical examples of how suppliers fail or pass for one of these requirements:

- A supplier claims he can make a 800 mm long metal part that requires a dimension accuracy of +/- 0.1 mm. But when asked to show how they will test whether the parts are within tolerances, he shows a class III tape measure that has a tolerance of more than +/-1 mm.

- A supplier of a very high precision power supply could show a small stock of a specific current sensor used to control power stability. Most other companies visited for the same project had no such sensor or even could not find the agent selling them.
 

Niptuck MD

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The second question to get an answer to is :”Is the supplier able to make the product I need ALL THE TIME?
Even when a factory has all the equipment tools and experience to make a product, there is no guarantee that it will make quality product consistently.
Consistent quality requires measurable and verifiable processes. Processes to make the right product first time, as well as quality control processes to catch any product that displays a problem, before being shipped to you.

To be able to make your product consistently CONSISTENT, a supplier should have the following:

-Clear and adapted production processes, including a good industrialization process, clear work instructions to workers, a reliable document and version management system (plant information management system PIMS), and a foolproof system to select components and material used to make the final product;

-Solid quality control processes, including regular incoming goods (RM or raw materials) inspections, in production quality control at various steps of the fabrication process, reliable rejected parts system (SCRAP and SR or Scrap Rate), final goods and packaged goods inspections

-Systematic data collection and storage, for instance to allow problem root cause analysis in case product displays failure after shipment.

This is harder to really evaluate. All Chinese supplier will know what you want to hear and they will know what to answer to you when you ask about process.

Ultimately the only way to get reliable information is to see evidence of the process on the shop floor (in person on via webcam)

For example;



-Seeing a specific caliper next to the machine where a metal part is formed is a decent evidence that some in-production quality control (IPQC) is done. Especially if you also see a record sheet attached to a production batch file;

E6E2B702-82F9-4ABF-B10F-3F2B8099C0BB.jpeg 09EDB6CD-1FF5-4DB3-A90B-00935EF9A263.jpeg


-Seeing a dedicated location or (room) for quality control, with dedicated technicians perfoming checks and completing a quality record sheet is apt evidence

-In electronic product factories, you may see automatic testing systems running in line. If you also can see that these data are stored in the ERP (enterprise resource planning) system and can be retrieved on a batch per batch basis, you got strong evidence as well

All these do not have to be high tech. Many smaller suppliers will use paper work and simple filing systems, but they are able to catch problem and trace causes of the problems even if they do not have a fancy ERP system. Here, the spirit and mindset are there despite the bells and whistles utilised by larger robust factories
 

Niptuck MD

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The third question to get an answer to is :”Are the supplier and its internal systems mature and solid enough to withstand a small crisis or the loss of a key person?” Many smaller companies are able to provide their customers with decent quality and good service, but this is based on a few experienced people

for those of you that have established supplier relations and will be contiuining the ongoing relationships something for your consideration;


-A strong factory manager enforces the processes in place, but if he is not there, suddenly the shop floor gets messy.

-A very experienced technician is able to set up the machines for your particular product (s) but after he leaves the company, no one could make it any longer because documentation was not clear enough for the other workers (miscommunication or lack thereof)

-A very dynamic sales person has good project management skills and is able to get the factory do what his or her customers require. But when he moves to something else, the replacement is more junior and has less influence on the factory. The client experience degrades quickly
If point 2 was hard to evaluate, point 3 is even harder. It will be hard to be sure the problem will not arise at seemingly good factories. But is is possible to screen out poor factories where problems will certainly occur.
The biggest issue here is that when someone with AUTHORITY of the plant leaves or something happens, whomever takes over will they be able to continually keep your products production running as fluid as it was before?
 
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Niptuck MD

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Also to supplement one of the most important things to consider right from the GETGO, is
what actually should be the first thing to be checked, “Is the supplier a properly registered and certified company?“.
This is the easiest thing to verify. You ask a copy of the documents and read them.
Points to check include company official title/name (in Chinese), address (should be the same on all documents or there should be a very good reasons for the discrepancy, and validity dates. The minimum list of documents to check include

-Company business license: also check the business scope of the company and see that it covers the product you need;

-Company ISO 9001 certificate: also check that it covers the product and services you need;

-Any other company wide certificates respective to your product such as ISO 14001, TS16949 (for all things AUTOMOTIVE) etc there are several others

-Export license; this may or may not be required depending on your respective country

1ED2C5B6-D417-45A3-BC0B-F859846C8EFA.jpeg 37845382-BB0D-4D50-B952-E534AE37F62C.jpeg F63C6E35-64E4-411C-B927-94AC4BFF746B.jpeg
 

Niptuck MD

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To summarise this section....

Realize that your supplier is often dealing with countless subcontractors for materials so the chance of delays runs through a long chain. You will find that your Chinese manufacturer will often wait until the last minute to break bad news to you regarding delayed shipments, defective product or any number of unwanted problems. Understand that this brinksmanship can be traced to a society where responsibility for bad news or failure to meet planned objectives could result in criticism, ostracizing or even severe punishment

Don’t forget, Chinese counterparts are speaking and writing in a second language they probably do not fully understand, especially idiomatic Western expressions. Understand that note-taking for them can be a difficult task, especially listening and being able to get it on the paper when it’s coming to them at light speed. So avoid ambiguous jargon and slang-filled sentences. Write emails in a clear concise manner with succinct bullet points that offer next-step solutions. Follow up with brief phone/skype calls to clarify the email and to see how much of what was “accurately” communicated truly was.

The more information plowed at Chinese contacts, however well intentioned, just gives them more to trip over. Keep it short, simple and positive.

Try to differentiate your manufacturing base. All too often an avalanche of purchase orders on too few factories will result in burying the company’s reputation. Chinese factories just don’t have the middle management capabilities to ramp up as fast as Western companies expect. Chinese factories usually won’t turn away the business; most are hungry for work as they survive on razor-thin profit margins. They’ll promise you the moon and the stars but you’ll end up in a crater.

2BContd
 

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Hol. Lee. Shit.


What a brain dump @Arun Siva. Can't wait to see what you've got coming next in this thread.


You blew my mind this weekend, and I've been thinking about what you said about raw material quality non-stop ever since.


It's too late now, but I've got some questions that I hope you can answer that I'll post up soon.
 
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Niptuck MD

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It's too late now, but I've got some questions that I hope you can answer that I'll post up soon.


Anytime bro. You know where to find me @amp0193 also this thread will enlighten on a myriad of topics covering as many pitfalls that i have witnessed as possible. Trust me, big corps deal with the same issues that even aspiring FLers endure...
 

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Anytime bro. You know where to find me @amp0193 also this thread will enlighten on a myriad of topics covering as many pitfalls that i have witnessed as possible. Trust me, big corps deal with the same issues that even aspiring FLers endure...


What's your background?

Do you consult/work for large corporations? Or is this all for your own businesses that you've learned this?
 

Niptuck MD

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What's your background?

Do you consult/work for large corporations? Or is this all for your own businesses that you've learned this?

Both. I have worked for some big names
but would like to see the middle tier (more understanding and ethical companies make it) as well
 
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Today I am going to emphasise the importance of
Pre-Shipment Inspections
To Inspect or Not To Inspect . . .
… that is the question:

-Are these factories better enough to relax your quality control?
-Can you skip these pre-shipment inspections and afford to rely on the supplier’s own QC measures?

This is very tempting isn’t it? Still, I strongly recommend that you continue to perform pre-shipment inspections.

The control may be lighter then what would be done for other factories.

A real case....

To illustrate why, let me introduce a real case that my cohorts and I went through.

The client was in the midst of purchasing high-end professional speakers from several factories in China. The companies were evaluated and found rather good. We also know that they use several people from outside China to reinforce their practices. In particular, one of the factory has recruited a non-native (westerner) with sole responsibilities in engineering and quality. Quality assurance and quality control policies were discussed with him and all seemed to be well under control and properly documented.

Still, sticking to our policy of not relaxing our own quality control too easily, we recommended to require inspection for each delivery. When the goods were ready for the first purchase order, we asked good quality inspector’s professionals to perform the pre-inspections at the factory. And the results were surprising: too many small problems for a professional product and the delivery was rejected. Supplier was asked to rework the goods and solve the defects.

(Here we see lacerations and issues with material in the back construction and fabric of the cone within the speakers)

00003ADB-85BB-472A-B84F-4E962954A502.png 1CEA8AC5-A189-43D1-99EC-5CB6ACD65DEB.png


We were all glad that we did not relax too quickly, in spite of the seemingly good management of the supplier. It takes more than a few good managers to ensure quality consistency. It requires that all the staff adopts a special focus on quality.

In this case, it seems that some imported parts were delayed and the production had to take place very rapidly to keep the committed schedule. So the root question was

“Were the well documented processes by-passed knowingly? Or were workers under too much pressure and they skipped some steps?”

Or were the workers in the factory not experienced enough to perform the QC deeply enough and due to short leadtime, the experienced managers did not have time to review any or all of this??

We will never know, but the key is that the goods ready for shipment were not up to standard. The supplier recognized this (which believe it or not is a big deal)

However being a reputable supplier, they swiftly performed the required rework and re-made batches that due to time constraints were not worth re-working.

And we have all reasons to believe that they performed some decent root cause analysis and implemented appropriate corrective actions.

But imagine what would have happened if you had gotten the goods in inventory. Or worse even, if the goods had been dropped shipped to the end user...... could be chaotic from their point of you and ultimately for you (think time lost, production rate lost, time wasted in shipment to you etc etc)

2BContd.







 

Niptuck MD

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Let’s say you have done your DD, Now, what

Is there something you really don’t want to forget??

Here is a somewhat lucrative checklist:

Describe the product
  • Write down precise product specifications

Identify and pre-qualify supplier(s)
  • List potential suppliers that offer the right kind of product
  • Communicate your standard terms (about payment, QC…)
  • Ask a rough quotation
  • Do a background check on the supplier and an audit of the factory
Share product information with potential supplier(s)

  • Ask the supplier to sign and chop an enforceable NDA
  • Share product specs with supplier(s)
  • Send a sample to supplier(s), if applicable
  • Get feedback about product specs
Develop special tooling/molds with supplier(s), if necessary

  • Find a price agreement
  • Get a development agreement signed and chopped by the supplier
  • If necessary, wire money
Develop samples with supplier(s) [for a new product]

  • Supplier sends 1st sample
  • Client comments about 1st samples
  • If necessary, supplier sends more samples
  • Approval of golden sample
  • Comments for production
Develop samples with supplier(s) [for a new labeling or packing]

  • Supplier sends 1st sample
  • Client comments about 1st samples
  • If necessary, supplier sends more samples
  • Approval of golden sample
  • Comments for production
Finalize product specs

  • Confirm with supplier that product specs are correct
Issue PO, confirm 1 supplier

  • Select 1 supplier
  • Make the product spec sheet an exhibit of the purchase order
Authorize the supplier to start production

  • Get a manufacturing agreement signed and chopped by the supplier
  • Launch the payment process (transfer of deposit / opening of letter of credit)
  • Remind the supplier to book the materials/components immediately
Comment on production samples

  • Supplier sends samples taken from mass production
  • Comment on samples
  • If necessary, supplier sends samples again
Inspection/testing during production

  • Share PO & share product specs with inspection firm/staff
  • Get an estimate of the price/time necessary, and confirm
  • Tell supplier about inspection plans
  • Supplier proposes timing of inspection
  • Get report & give feedback to supplier
Book shipment with a forwarder

  • Get quotes and compare them
  • Confirm a quote
  • Start tracking shipment with forwarder
Approve quality before shipment

  • Share PO & share product specs with inspection firm/staff
  • Get an estimate of the price/time necessary, and confirm
  • Tell supplier about inspection plans
  • Supplier proposes timing of inspection
  • Get report & give feedback to supplier
  • If necessary, proceed to re-inspection and issue a debit note to supplier
Shipment

  • Forwarder advises closing date
  • Authorize shipment
  • Forwarder confirms the products were made available in time
  • Forwarder confirms the products were shipped out
  • Supplier sends a copy of the documents
  • Confirm that the documents are all correct
Final payment

  • Check the quantity of shipped products
  • If payment by bank wire: transfer the balance
  • Supplier sends all original documents
  • Confirm receipt of all original documents
Customs clearance

  • Forwarder/agent applies for clearance
  • Payment of import duties
Domestic transport

  • Arrange domestic transport
  • Confirm receipt of products
Warehousing

  • Arrange sufficient manpower and space
QC on incoming products

  • Share PO & share product specs with internal QC staff
  • QC service checks conformity & quality
  • If necessary, give feedback to supplier and inspectors


@Envision @amp0193 @Hyrum

Feel free to share ya’lls take
 

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The mantra for today is

“You get what you INSPECT, not what you EXPECT.​

Take a look at the following pictures from overseas.... these are the manufacturing environments that failed our surprised audits when we just dropped in. (Hence no time for the plant manager to take the brooms out of the closet no heads up were given)

EF5CD197-4263-43C4-BFB4-E73F3B3ED917.jpeg

Parts, yes parts are beside that rubble...... customer orders are just lying around reckless abandonement....

EA09E2BD-35C7-43E5-8F83-498F1E43FDA7.jpeg

Rusted raw castings and materials everywhere; (this may be an issue make sure if you are sourcing alloys or metals that are non-galvanized) that they are NOT STORED outside. Make this very clear; rust is such an underlying problem that causes headaches for everyone! It’s a LOSE-LOSE situation

—————————————————————————————————————————————————
 
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amp0193

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Rusted raw castings and materials everywhere; (this may be an issue make sure if you are sourcing alloys or metals that are non-galvanized) that they are NOT STORED outside. Make this very clear; rust is such an underlying problem that causes headaches for everyone!

So, I haven't had a problem with rust, except for on a couple of screws. But it's the same couple of screws on every product.

Did they arrive to the final factory like this from whatever factory made the screws, or is it more likely that this happened at my factory? i.e. left outside.
 

amp0193

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these are the manufacturing environments that failed our surprised audits when we just dropped in.

Can you get into the social implications of springing a surprise audit on your factory?

Is this normal/expected?

Or does this damage the relationship?

I do see the immense value of this. I see the pictures you shared, and I don't have any idea if my factory is that sloppy or not.
 

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Is the supplier able to make the product I need ALL THE TIME?
To be able to make your product consistently CONSISTENT, a supplier should have the following:

-Clear and adapted production processes, including a good industrialization process, clear work instructions to workers, a reliable document and version management system (plant information management system PIMS), and a foolproof system to select components and material used to make the final product;

-Solid quality control processes, including regular incoming goods (RM or raw materials) inspections, in production quality control at various steps of the fabrication process, reliable rejected parts system (SCRAP and SR or Scrap Rate), final goods and packaged goods inspections

-Systematic data collection and storage, for instance to allow problem root cause analysis in case product displays failure after shipment.

This is harder to really evaluate. All Chinese supplier will know what you want to hear and they will know what to answer to you when you ask about process.

Ultimately the only way to get reliable information is to see evidence of the process on the shop floor (in person on via webcam)

I know next to nothing about manufacturing processes, although I've made it a point to educate myself, since talking to you.

Is there a 3rd party that could inspect the QC processes of my factory? What would this type of service be called?


Also, about raw materials:

How do I know if the factory is consistently using the same raw materials? Or that the material is even what it claims to be? Say 1020 steel as an example.

Do I need an inspection company to examine the steel stock prior to manufacturing?

Do I need to do this before every order?


I had a recent failure that was either due to inferior material, or a poor weld. I'm going to have a local welder teach me this week quality vs. poor welding, but as far as material goes... I have no idea.


Are there inspectors that could correctly identify a high-quality weld? This seems like something I need to have checked every time.
 
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Did they arrive to the final factory like this from whatever factory made the screws, or is it more likely that this happened at my factory? i.e. left outside.

When you approached your point of contact about this what did he/she say?
(More then likely they will pass the buck on their screw supplier)... however despite the root causation, you communicate to them that you will not tolerate rusty components Period on any of your batches henceforth.
 

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Can you get into the social implications of springing a surprise audit on your factory?

Is this normal/expected?

Or does this damage the relationship?

By last minute i mean maybe 24-36 hours in advance of people actually going on site and seeing their production runs being done....

It is very normal and must be done; however one would gauge the importance of this depending on where they are at at their sourcing stage; i think you @amp0193 are well immersed in your product and if you were to go over there (not sure if you already visited your supplier my bad) you would pick up a TON just by their body language and mannerisms and then whatever i shed light on here you could use to your advantage if things aren’t up to your standards (or quality manufacturing standards etc)

In terms of social implications, the workers only do what their cell leaders tell them... the cell leaders do what the shop leads or in many cases the plant manager tells them. depending on the plant you select (each plant is ran differently with a different hierarchy and management style nothing is cookie cutter because of lack of importance nor care in many situations)....

If you (the customer) are a valued (customer) and are somewhere in the middle of their group (think from factories perspective a scale of their top customers in terms of production size (1-10 with 1 being minimal batches and 10 being their big fishes) even if you are somewhere between 4-6, you doing due diligence and asking and probing around shouldn’t derail the train. Ultimately you will have a backup supplier if shit were to hit the fan, but these factories cannot afford to lose the small-medium range sourcing customers, because they run on slim enough margins to begin with and need you more then you need them....
 
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you communicate to them that you will not tolerate rusty components Period on any of your batches henceforth.

That's what I said. And I'll be checking every damn screw when I go there in a few weeks.
 

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That's what I said. And I'll be checking every damn screw when I go there in a few weeks.

In terms of checking screws, i would ask them if they have had this issue in the past; (forget about your situation but if they have had rusty screws in the past) and then I would go on and just re-emphasise the neglection on their part to actually assemble screws in whatever your component is....

You may end up doing them a favor if their assemblers are installing rusty screws in other products as well (indirectly)

However, rusty screws can be easily remedied if you just ask for galvanized screws for your product. Galvanized coating (coating of zinc on steel) is what makes many metal substances sourced rustproof. There are a myriad of products are galvanized for this very reason
 

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I know next to nothing about manufacturing processes, although I've made it a point to educate myself, since talking to you.

Is there a 3rd party that could inspect the QC processes of my factory? What would this type of service be called?


Also, about raw materials:

How do I know if the factory is consistently using the same raw materials? Or that the material is even what it claims to be? Say 1020 steel as an example.

Do I need an inspection company to examine the steel stock prior to manufacturing?

Do I need to do this before every order?


I had a recent failure that was either due to inferior material, or a poor weld. I'm going to have a local welder teach me this week quality vs. poor welding, but as far as material goes... I have no idea.


Are there inspectors that could correctly identify a high-quality weld? This seems like something I need to have checked every time.

Yes there are 3rd party companies (buying and sourcing agents) in CHina and the US that cover all of the inspections, sourcing verifications etc but utilisation of those services depends on your budget and where you are at with your business (you can PM for more detailed input)

Regarding raw materials, surely you will not be able to get all of these answers or wont know for sure but since you said you were going there you can definitely ask for material certs and see if there have been prior inspections done to the raw materials that they get (unless your plant also sources their own raw materials then most likely they will not have all of it)

Regarding your failure, it could have been; obviously you wouldn’t have known to ask but from a manufacturing perspective the questions I would ask are:

how many pieces had poor welds?
Where they uniformly the same welds in the same area? (Send me a pm with this if need be)
Where there any cracks around the poor weld areas?

Going to a welder to analyse some welds is fine but for welding and brazing processes in bulk manufacturing there is something called NDT or Non-destructive testing.

This NDT tests for exactly the quality of welds, brazes, joint fitments etc etc

I am sure your plant may not have an NDT inspector; however they must have something to check welds. You want to also make sure the right welding process is utilised for what your application is..

There is

MIG welding
TIG welding
Plasma
Oxy-acetylene

Is your supplier using the correct welding method for your specific product?

Again, i dont know the intricate details of your product, but these are factors that go into the process from a manufacturing standpoint;
 
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Is there a 3rd party that could inspect the QC processes of my factory? What would this type of service be called?


Bro if i had the time, I’d go to china myself and fix all of the problems! Not a bad idea haha
 

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I had a recent failure that was either due to inferior material, or a poor weld. I'm going to have a local welder teach me this week quality vs. poor welding, but as far as material goes... I have no idea.


Are there inspectors that could correctly identify a high-quality weld? This seems like something I need to have checked every time

Adding to this point,

NDT inspectors are specialised and certified (here in the USA at least) and are definitely not cheap. I am sure they are cheaper in china, however not sure if they succumb to all the strict rigid standards of the ASNT (American society of nondestructive testing)

When checking weld quality there are several choices that factories usually employ to check
These include

Industrial radiography or CT scanning (think of x-rays)
Ultrasonic testing
Liquid or dye penetrant testing
MPI or magnetic particle inspection (using current like eddy current)

In a proper weld, these tests would indicate a lack of cracks either visually or through a radiograph (clear passage of sound to indicate a clear smooth surface (machined)

However, most of the factories (not making complex or heavy duty parts for your common industries) probably just do VIsual testing (VT)
Visual inspection is just cost-effective and doesn’t require much equipment usually just a mirror a pocket rule a weld gauge however due to the time constraints, i believe many small shops/factories are in a rush and rut they neglect to check thoroughly the components that were welded.

Usually VT is done on simple components and simple factories that usually make widgets and nothing more intricate then that.... There is just no reason to invest in proper equipment for a small MANPROS to through time, money and energy at; again this has to do with plant selection from the onset and if they are even a good fit or else they may be of a disservice to your long term needs.
 

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By last minute i mean maybe 24-36 hours in advance of people actually going on site and seeing their production runs being done....

Thanks for clarifying. I thought you meant with no notice at all.

i think you @amp0193 are well immersed in your product and if you were to go over there (not sure if you already visited your supplier my bad) you would pick up a TON just by their body language and mannerisms and then whatever i shed light on here you could use to your advantage if things aren’t up to your standards (or quality manufacturing standards etc)

Makes sense, I'll pay close attention
 
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With the Chinese New Year (CNY) passing, a lot of you ecommerce sourcers may have been struggling with communication and or production of your goods to be sourced from overseas on time. Here is something to consider.....

Westerners return from their Christmas holiday
The buyers come back after the Christmas and then the New Year rolls around and they’re fired up. They’re ready to get some quotes going. Hoping they can get 1 more project order in before the factory closes.

They soon find that not only is it next to damn near impossible to get any project really going. Just getting a quote is like pulling teeth. However they fail to neglect if their existing orders made it out to the ships.....

Experienced importers tend to find themselves not remembering how long the “toil” lasts.

“Timing” before the Chinese New Year

Keep in mind that timing is more theoretical than something that’s a solid actualization but nonetheless,

  • your sales contract may not actually know when an order can get on the production line. They just know it’s not going to be until after the holiday.
  • Keep in mind that even prior to Christmas, factories already confirm that nothing’s able to ship prior to their anticipated break. Yes, yes, I know you’re reading this waaay after Christmas and I should’ve written this post earlier. Bookmark this to read it next early November.
  • And when it comes to samples started in January, don’t be surprised if the piece arrives wrong or the factory isn’t able to complete prior to the holiday. Around the holiday, the factory will say that they didn’t have their normal sampling line set up because the workers went home. Or they will promise to do a better version, 20 to 25 days from now…
When it comes to timing in your RFQ’s before the Lunar New Year…
  • Again, with a focus on this “timing”, realize the quote’s lead time is fluid. I mean fluid in a bad way. If the quote says they can ship March 15th, that may actually be April 10th.
Let your buyers, or whomever you serve know about this!
That quotes from Dec to Jan need a new timing confirmation as soon as the holiday is over.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you plan to make a deposit on an order right after the New Year. You have thesupplier’s invoice and sampling is already signed-off. The invoice states that mass production takes 25 days.

Ok but that is 25 days starting on what day?

And how do you know they’ll be able to indeed start that day?

And if they do start, are you sure there’s not more customers jockeying their order for position? And yours doesn’t get bumped??

Don’t build solid hopes on a timing quoted during this “period of uncertainty”. Be extremely aware to follow-up on timing, as soon as the holiday is winding down.

Be a squeaky wheel if needed so that suppliers will prioritize you over others. It’s a damn jungle over there.....

Don’t wait to get a “bad news” email when it’s too late.

Timing also comes into play with logistics
For the logistics, this is where crowded orders, pre-holiday rush and bottle-neck ports all meet. Last year, we almost had a stranded order, but were able to rebook it out of an obscure port. All because of the New Year, the main ports were no longer accepting shipments.

During this time period, be vigilant on logistics. If something’s supposed to depart factory on Jan 18th and catch the next sailing date on Jan 22nd, missing a closing date can lead to more than 2 weeks delay.

Check it and check it again. Be sure the supplier is in close communication with the freight forwarder on their side

Work to assure you or your vendor book the spacing in advance

After the New Year…
Once the holiday officially ends, don’t expect the factory and your sales contact to come back swifter than a roe deer.

  • Your sales contact may return earlier than the factory workers.
  • The factory may be open 1 week to 10 days before actual production or fruitful work commences. This doesn’t mean they’ll immediately start on your case.
  • Remember to reconfirm all preconfirmed timing discussion immediately when your sales contact returns to office
 

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