China is a great manufacturer with massive productivity. The manufacturing infrastructure is cheap, labor isn’t as expensive as western nations, and the economy is strong enough to support its manufacturing industry. Before you start looking for a supplier in China, you need to know what about your product is important to you. Have a list of product requirements or guidelines based on your expectations or end goals so you can look for a good factory match.
Here we list some aspects for consideration when select a suitable supplier in China:
1. Main product-- What matters the most when selecting a Chinese manufacturer, is their capability, expertise and experience manufacturing the very same product you intend to purchase – and that is not to be taken for granted. You can search the main products via browsing B2B websites, like Alibaba, made-in-China or global source. In this way, you can build your first supplier list.
2. Main export markets—When you have the supplier lists, next you need to narrow down the list of suppliers you want to work with to a manageable amount. Manufacturers with a main focus on developed markets tend to maintain a higher quality standard, keep defect rates low and offer compliance with foreign product safety standards.
3. Quality-- Once you have a list of potential suppliers, it’s time to take things to the next level: inspecting for quality assurance. When dealing with a sourcing agent/ company, be sure they can deliver quality products to you. Some companies will sign contracts, get paid, and at the end, they deliver substandard products. Top sourcing agent/ companies make sure they do quality checks and testing for clients, but you should still follow up with the sourcing process to be sure they will deliver top quality. You can schedule time for factory visit or ask a Chinese friend for factory inspection.
4. Price-- One of the major reason you are thinking of sourcing products from China in the first place is the price of goods manufactured there. Therefore, understand what you need. You need to first know what is available and have a way to categorize the information. If you are a small business and need dedicated attention, you may want to develop a good relationship with a small family-owned business.
