Making products by outsourcing manufacturing to China can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only does it enable you to develop the item exactly how you want, but it also allows you to create high-quality products in much larger quantities than you would otherwise be able to make on your own. For these reasons, more and more entrepreneurs are choosing to manufacture their products in China by enlisting the help of an OEM manufacturing company.

However, with all the options currently available, selecting the right OEM company can seem like a daunting task.

Asking yourself the right questions before you begin production with a new partner can save you time and money in the long run, ensuring that you have an efficient manufacturing experience from start to finish. Let’s get started!

Question #1: What Are My Requirements & Standards?

The first question to ask yourself before approaching an OEM company is to develop an exhaustive understanding of your product. Not only should you have a general idea of the product, but also write down the product specifications in detail like:

• Colors
• Materials
• Dimensions
• Components
• Manufacturing techniques
• Manufacturing process
• Quality standards
• Packing requirements
• Import and export requirements

When you manufacture a product, the outcome can be drastically different based on what type of raw materials or techniques are used. It’s important to establish your criteria beforehand so that you know which company will create the best result for you.

Question #2: What Is My Budget Limit?

It’s important to define the upper limit of your budget when outsourcing your production to any supplier, because a more affordable company may not be able to provide you with the same quality and efficiency as a more expensive option. And you may not want to sacrifice the product quality just for saving a bit of money. That being said, while the price is certainly something you should consider when shopping for an OEM supplier, it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor.

However, it’s not a good idea to set an exact budget number right off the bat before all other factors are not considered.

In this case, you can estimate the price range for this manufacturing project based on what you think would work best for your company. Then you can also compare various service providers to have a better understanding of the perfect investment for your business.

Question #3: What Should I Do to Conduct Due Diligence?

After fully considering your needs, then you can conduct due diligence to know whether the manufacturing company is knowledgeable about your specific product type, or if it has worked with similar products before.

The best way to find this information out is by researching the company website to know their background, qualifications, service category, past work, etc.

You can also ask for references from a supplier you trust or reach out to other businesses that are manufacturing a similar product.

Doing detailed due diligence is not an easy task, check out our blog to know how to spot a real factory or a trading company in China.

Once you have all the relevant information, compare different manufacturers’ strengths and weaknesses against your needs and make a decision based on what will work best for your business.

Question #4: A One-Stop Shop Factory VS. Different Suppliers

Then you also need to think about do you want to use a one-stop shop factory that can fulfill all your needs or different suppliers who can specialize in different areas.

A one-stop shop factory is a model whereby one company manufactures, assembles, and distributes the product that they have been commissioned for. This factory can potentially increase efficiency and reduce production costs as a result of having all production processes under one roof. However, this could also limit your options for product customization if their manufacturing capabilities are limited.  

If you need to make products with different materials or designs than what they produce, then you will need to find a different supplier. Furthermore, there may be certain materials or suppliers that are hard or expensive to acquire domestically in China so it may be necessary to find another supplier.

If time is not a concern and cost savings are your main priority, then finding one supplier might be the best option for you. However, if flexibility is more important for you, then working with multiple suppliers would be recommended.

Question #5: How to Guarantee My Product is Perfectly Working?

One way that a manufacturing factory can prove its commitment to quality assurance is by providing a sample of your product for inspection. In this case, requesting a product sample before placing your first order can be a good idea.

If there are any flaws, you have the opportunity to give feedback before mass production. In other words, if the manufacturer has nothing to hide, then there should be no problem with sending out a sample or a finished product for testing. This eliminates the risk of encountering problems and ensures your customers get what they pay for!

In addition, it’s imperative to look at whether your potential manufacturing supplier has an in-house quality inspection team or not. You want someone who will stand by you when things go wrong because inevitably something will go wrong at some point. If they assure you of having quality inspections available, ensure that the inspection report specifies what exactly is being inspected and which parts aren’t included.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, your choice of manufacturer in China should be determined by what matters most to you and how much involvement you want with the production process.

Keep in mind that there is no perfect way of choosing a manufacturer but it’s worth taking some time to think about what’s important and how much you want to be involved in the process.

If you need any help, look no further than Shield Works. Founded in 2020, we are an offshoot of the British-owned and managed C2W Group located in the South China Greater Bay Area offering high-quality and competitive manufacturing services, supply chain management, quality control, and product development requirements.

We focus on the provision of a tailor-made solution based on your situation to meet your standards and requirements. Start your journey by reaching out today to discuss your product and learn how we can help.