Product Assembly
5 Things about Outsourced Product Assembly You Can’t Afford To Miss
If you’re looking for ways to save time and money, outsourcing your product assembly could be one way to do that without compromising your overall quality. Here are some things you can’t afford to miss if you’re considering this option. These tips apply whether you’re looking at outsourcing on a small or large scale; the only difference will be in the amount of detail each section of your post needs. With that in mind, here are the five things you can’t afford to miss if you’re planning to outsource product assembly.
First off, What Is Outsourced Product Assembly?
What is outsourced product assembly? How does it differ from in-house assembly?
When a business outsources assembly, it hires a third-party company to make the items it uses or sells in part or in full, depending on the relationship established between the two parties.
Whenever you consider outsourcing your product construction, think about the items that you would like to have made, then find businesses that can build them, and then talk to them about forming a relationship.
It’s important to know exactly what you want a third party to do for you before you begin outsourcing.
It Lowers Your Costs
Doesn’t it make more sense for companies to produce everything themselves rather than outsource it?
The cost of running a business increases when a company creates its own products. It can especially hurt small companies, since they may lack the funds to hire many workers.
Your production costs can be reduced by partnering with another company. When you do this, the other company will provide and employ the workers for you. Thus, you do not need to pay salaries or hire new employees.
Other companies are usually based overseas, such as in China. China’s manufacturing costs are cheaper than in other developed nations, so you will not have to spend as much on your final product. As a result, you are able to cultivate productive and positive business relationships with professionals abroad!
You Can’t Just Work with Any Product Assembly Company
Just as with any business partnership, you want to make sure you find the right manufacturing company for your specific requirements.
Make a list of all the materials and items your product requires. Does the company have them?
Also, ask them if they have worked with any companies similar to yours in the past.
Furthermore, you should pay attention to how friendly and professional the company’s workers are. In order to be productive for as long as possible, you should look for a company with great client service.
If their customer service is not up to par, then it will be difficult for them to get things done efficiently.
In addition, you need to know what type of warranty is offered by the manufacturer so that when problems arise, it can quickly be resolved without too much stress on your end.
Furthermore, price is also important when choosing a product assembly company.
Timeline Is Important
When you first talk to a company, ask them how long it takes them to produce and ship items. This will affect how quickly you can deliver materials to your clients. Therefore, you should find a company that makes high-quality items quickly.
You should discuss what happens when unforeseen circumstances occur. Natural disasters, for example, might cause the company’s ability to deliver your product to you to be interrupted. In times of emergency, you should know what measures the company takes to keep its production running smoothly.
If an urgent situation arises, ask who you should contact. This will give you a person to go to, instead of wasting time looking up who to contact.
The last thing you want is to miss deadlines because of miscommunication. Lastly, make sure that both parties have contingency plans in place in case any problems arise.
Make Sure They Have Everything It Needs to Protect Your IP
Copyright is different depending on which country you are in, so a company should do what it can to ensure that its intellectual property is safeguarded.
That’s why you should research the intellectual property laws of the country in which your products will be made. If they do not protect the rights of other companies, consider making your products elsewhere.
As a bonus, you might also be able to use this to assess the company’s technological competency in keeping your data safe. Do they use leading-edge, state-of-the-art software? Is it comparable to the security you take at your place of business? Do they make regular security checks and upgrades?
A leak of your intellectual property can result in serious, business-damaging losses such as intellectual property piracy and lost data. If you’re trying to keep your company safe, think about the level of security that others have.
When you find a potential supplier that meets these standards, take things a step further. Ask them how they will keep your data and IP safe. Do they have a physical security system? Will they test regularly to make sure everything is working as it should be? If so, then you can work with them more confidently.
Also, you can take precautions on your end. Always have NDAs prepared for your supplier to sign before giving out any sensitive information; register trademarks and patents to prevent copycats and protect your brand; if you source parts or components from multiple suppliers, assemble them at one secure location;
Ready to Outsource Your Product Manufacturing?
In light of this, have you given thought to outsource assembly process?
Outsourcing production may help a company get their goods faster and more cheaply than trying to produce everything on-site. Further, they are freed to focus on innovation and growth of their company.
Here at Shield Works, we manufacture goods. Located in China and British-owned and managed, our goal is to provide clients with high-quality items at affordable prices. If you would like to know more about what we can offer, please get in contact with us!
5 Quality Control Practices for Product Assembly in China
Product assembly. In China, this is a huge industry that results in doing business with countries around the world.
China is known to be a leader when it comes to manufacturing. Why is this?
Because over the last few years, they have accounted for 28% of global manufacturing output. To put that in perspective, the country in second place on that list (the United States) is more than 10 percentage points behind.
Since product assembly in China is such a global business, companies need to make sure that the process is smooth and that the products getting shipped remained undamaged.
How do they do that? What do you need to know about manufacturing before getting involved with this industry?
These are five practices that you need to know about China product assembly.
1. Ensuring Good Communication
The first thing that you need to do when it comes to quality control is to make sure that there is good communication. Having this locked down can do a lot of good for your company.
One benefit is that everyone is on the same page, and everyone should know what the overall goal is and what they have to do to achieve it. This gets everyone to work as a team rather than having individuals confused and frustrated about what is being done.
Do you want to know just how important good communication is? This study reveals that 86% of employees and executives note a lack of good communication as the cause of failures in the workplace.
What does this mean? It means that communication should be the number one priority when it comes to quality control. If you are the leader or know the leader of your company, you need to make sure that you or they are doing a good job of establishing clear communication.
2. Knowing Your Target Country’s Quality Standards
The next thing that you need to keep in mind with product assembly is knowing your target country’s standards. This is important because, let’s be honest; the quality standards in China may not be universal.
With that in mind, if you are going to primarily do business with one country or a specific group of countries, you better have a good idea of what their expectations are.
You can simply ask them what they expect from you, or you can do additional research on their rules and regulations. Then, see if their quality standards are doable for your company and how much more expensive it is going to be to meet those standards.
From there, you can decide if you want to do a large amount of business with that country.
3. Proper Product Inspection
Before you ship your products out from your factory, it is important to make sure that you properly inspect these products before you send them out to customers.
You never want to have a problem or a defect, but if you do, your in-house team should catch it rather than the customer. If the customer is the one that discovers it, you run the risk of losing that customer’s business.
With that in mind, you need to make sure that the proper inspections are put in place. This includes inspecting a product before it is packaged, checking the packages before and after loading them on their method of transportation and having a system to deal with defective products.
If you have all of that put in place, it should increase your success in quality control.
4. You Get What You Pay For
This old saying is very true when it comes to product assembly in China. The reason why is that the manufacturing in this country is still priced lower than the west.
As a result, some of the products are not made as well as by other manufacturers that follow the proper quality control codes. What this means is that you may be delivering a poorer product to the customer. Sometimes, this is so poor that it does not meet the standards pointed out above.
If you are dealing with countries or customers that require a higher standard, then you are going to have to shell out the money for higher quality manufacturing. It means putting more inspections in place and having better equipment to handle your products.
5. Choose the Right Product Assembly Service
Finally, you need to make sure that you have the right product assembly service by your side if you are not going to do it yourself. Reaching out to professionals can increase the chance of having higher quality products out there for your business and increase the chances of smooth operations.
So, how do you find the right service? Network around the industry and see if you can find out what companies similar businesses had success with.
You can also try to find reviews and testimonials of a company. This can give you insight into experiences that other customers had and see if it is right for you.
Start Your Product Assembly Operation
These are just a few of the things that you need to know about quality control practices when it comes to the product assembly industry. Now, you should have a better idea of what goes into making sure there is a high quality here.
You need the right service by your side, proper product inspections, good communication, knowing your target country, and having the right budget for this.
Are you ready to get started? Message us today and see how we can help you.
Choosing the Right China Product Assembly Service for Your Business
Over two-thirds of all mobile handset devices were assembled and shipped from China in 2021.
While most of these units were due to the success of the iPhone, China has cemented itself as the global leader in the manufacturing and logistics industry. China has managed to dominate these sectors of the global economy for decades, transforming the Chinese economy in the process.
This dominance has left the Chinese manufacturing industry with the skills, expertise, and experience to be the world’s manufacturing hub. However, these facilities are also available for smaller businesses that want to outsource their product assembly needs to China.
Want to learn more about the product assembly services China has to offer? You’re in the perfect place. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Manufacturing Industry
The Chinese manufacturing industry is incredibly diverse in its offering. The entire industry is designed to be the ultimate one-stop shop for all your manufacturing and logistics needs. Here are the three different kinds of services that you can leverage to optimize your business.
Warehousing and Distribution Services
One of the main advantages that China has over the rest of the world is the fact that they have the logistics infrastructure to support its manufacturing sector. This allows businesses from around the world to manufacture and ship their finished products from China to every corner of the globe.
China makes use of the latest technology to help streamline the entire process. These technological advancements have left it with some of the most efficient ports and airports in the world. Despite its location, China can effectively ship to every country in the world.
China Product Assembly Services
Product assembly services can range from company to company. However, these services are vital to businesses that want to outsource the assembly of their products.
The Chinese market has one of the leading supply chains in the world. This means that there are tons of suppliers around China that can deliver various components and parts to the assembly facility just on time. This kind of logistics allows parts to arrive as they are needed on the production line.
Since they arrive when they are needed, there is no need to store them on site. This helps save space, time, and money while keeping things as streamlined and efficient as possible.
Product Assembly
Product assembly is one of the most common kinds of assembly services. This service includes working with a wide range of materials to help assemble your product for you. This includes materials such as plastic, metal, carbon fiber, wood, composites, textiles, and even cardboard.
Electronic Assembly
Electronic assembly is also incredibly popular in China. This is why companies like Apple use Chinese facilities to assemble their premium devices. This service includes a wide range of services, such as assembling wiring, connectors, clamps, switches, and various kinds of testing.
Assembly facilities have the tools to help with circuit testing, final product testing, and lifecycle testing. This can help ensure that your product is built to your satisfaction before it leaves the production floor.
Mechanical Assembly
Mechanical assembly is riveting, tapping, drilling, and staking. This kind of assembly is more technical in nature but can help ensure that your mechanical products are working exactly how they are meant to.
Packaging
While many may not think of packaging being part of the assembly process, it’s actually the most important part. The packaging that you use for your product can help set it apart from the competition. This plays a big role in your company’s branding and can be the difference between you and your competitor.
Benefits of Product Assembly Services in China
The Chinese manufacturing industry is the leading market for all your production and distribution needs. As the largest production industry in the world, the Chinese market can offer a level of service, quality, and affordability that you can’t get anywhere else. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider outsourcing your product assembly to China.
Strong Manufacturing Industry
As mentioned above, the Chinese manufacturing market is the most successful and dominant in the entire global economy. China has leveraged its favorable labor market and economic stability to dominate the industry for the last few decades. This has led to the evolution of the local sector, making it one of the most technologically advanced in the world.
It’s no secret that the success of the Chinese manufacturing market was heavily based on its low wages. However, the Chinese government, along with the local industry, has managed to evolve the entire industry. This evolution has left the market with some of the most technologically advanced systems and infrastructure.
This infrastructure has made China a global leader in manufacturing, product assembly, and logistics. This makes China the perfect partner to get your products sourced, manufactured, assembled, stored, and transported around the world. The one-stop shop nature of the Chinese market allows you to optimize your entire organization while managing to save on total costs.
Significantly Lower Production Costs
China became the manufacturing hub of the world because of its labor market. China is home to over 1.6 billion people that form part of a competitive labor market. The economic and political landscape in China has ensured that wages have grown but remain fairly low compared to other countries around the world.
While the minimum wage across Europe can range from $7 to over $20 an hour, the average wage across China is still below $3. However, the purchasing power of the local currency makes up for this difference. This makes China the perfect market to outsource your manufacturing to.
Stable Economic Environment
Despite the economic uncertainties over the last few years, the economic environment in China is quite stable. The government has included new legislation to make foreign investment easier. This has made the country perfect for investors looking to diversify their portfolios.
Favorable Local Currency
As mentioned above, China has a favorable local currency. The exchange rate is controlled completely by the national Government, allowing them to set the price according to their foreign investment needs at the time. While this is controversial, it helps strengthen the purchasing power of the local currency by insulating it from the rest of the global economy.
There are many benefits to controlling your currency this way. Besides allowing you to make investing more desirable to investors, it can also help investors make the most of their investment. This means that the same investment amount can stretch a lot further when working within the Chinese market.
Excellent International Logistics
China has evolved and upgraded its production facilities over the years. However, the country has made massive strides in other areas of the economy as well. The Chinese logistics and transportation sectors have been completely overhauled to help boost the local manufacturing industry throughout the country.
This has left China with some of the most efficient and productive ports in the world. In addition to this, China has state-of-the-art highways for logistics by road. China is also working on new highways to help them deliver goods by road throughout Europe.
The logistics and transportation services available in China make it the perfect place to base your international distribution center. However, outsourcing your production to China can allow you to produce and distribute your products from China. This can help make the entire process more efficient, saving you money in the process.
How To Find the Right China Product Assembly Service
Finding the right manufacturing partner is an important decision. This is because you want to find a long-term partner that can meet your organizational goals. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when looking for the right product assembly service to partner with within China.
1. Consider Your Needs
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of manufacturing plants, factories, and production facilities across China. While this does give you a lot of options, it can also make it difficult to find the right partner for your business.
Different companies have different needs. Figuring out exactly what you need from a manufacturing partner is the best place to start as it can help you filter out services that you may not need. While it’s beneficial to partner with a capable company, it can also be a waste of money to pay for services that you do not necessarily need.
It can also be beneficial to hire a consultant that’s experienced in the local manufacturing industry. These professionals are experienced within the Chinese market and can help you find the right partner for your company. These consultants aren’t free, but they can help you secure a long-term partner, saving you a lot more time and money in the process.
2. Scalability
Once you have a few companies shortlisted, compare the capabilities of each manufacturing company. Compare their fees but also look through each facility to examine their scalability. This is important because you want to find a partner than can seamlessly scale up production when demand increases.
Having a partner that can simply increase production quickly can help you keep up with demand around the world. If you were to partner with someone that could not scale up production, you would have to stop and find a new partner. Finding and switching manufacturing partners will take time and cost you potential sales while you’re busy handling the transition.
3. Track Record and Experience
As mentioned above, it’s important to look at a manufacturer’s scalability when evaluating the company. However, their track record is equally important. Don’t be shy to reach out to previous clients that they may have worked with to see what it’s like to work with them.
Finding and securing a manufacturing partner is probably one of the most important organizational decisions you will make for your company. This is especially important if you’re outsourcing production and trusting the manufacturing facility to produce and distribute your product on your behalf.
4. Range of Services
Not all production and manufacturing services are the same. This is why it’s so important to take a good look at the company before making your final decision. While some facilities only offer contract manufacturing, others may offer precision product assembly as well.
Partnering with manufacturing companies that offer more than one service is ideal as it also futureproofs your relationship. Even if you don’t need that particular service right now, the fact that the company can do it showcases how they still support you as your company grows.
5. Start Small
When you’ve found the perfect manufacturing company, start small with your first few orders. This can help you spot things you may want to improve on before you start production on a larger scale.
Even the smallest of delays can end up costing you money. Whether it’s an error in design or production, stopping production for even a second costs you sales. This is why it’s so important that you take your time to streamline every process and spot all the errors as quickly as possible.
Outsource Your Product Assembly
China is the manufacturing and logistics capital of the world. As a leader in the manufacturing industry, China is home to some of the most productive and optimized product assembly facilities. With the right partnerships, you can leverage this experience to grow your business around the world.
If you want to learn more about how you can optimize your production in China, Shield Works is the best place to start. We specialize in helping you outsource your production and product assembly needs in China to help you cut costs and maximize efficiency.
Interested in learning more? Contact us today.
Product Assembly in China: 5 Tips to Make Your Assembly Project More Efficient
Outsourcing product assembly to China has helped many Western companies expand their market reach and maintain competitive pricing.
It’s a simple yet effective process for those who want to increase productivity without breaking the bank or spending too much time waiting for shipment deliveries.
Do you take efficiency into account when planning to assemble a product? To improve your abilities at assembling products in China, here are five tips for business owners to keep in mind. Let’s get started.
1. Avoid Intellectual Property (IP) Theft
First off, as a brand owner, it is imperative to always keep your intellectual property (IP) intact. If this leaks out of course there will be legal action taken against you and it becomes a difficult process.
To ensure you’re making the right decisions when it comes to choosing an assembly partner and avoiding IP theft, do some research on how trademarks and patents work in China. Then find a supplier with a good reputation and a proven track record for helping other businesses succeed.
We also highly recommend having your chosen assembly partner sign NNN (Non-Disclosure, Non-Use, and Non-Circumvention) agreements to protect your confidentiality like product details, drawings, marketing strategies, etc.
If your potential assembly partner has any issues signing these agreements, then this should be a red flag and you may need to look for alternative options. Because if anything goes wrong with your IP rights, then that becomes an extremely difficult problem to deal with and you’ll have to postpone your assembly project.
2. Pay Attention to the Lead Time
Lead time is the period of time between an order being placed and the final product being received. The short lead time means the faster you can get the products.
As the old saying goes, time is money. Reducing leading time is an important goal when making products in China. There are many benefits to this activity such as:
- Outpace your competition
- Lower additional costs like warehousing costs and logistics costs
- Quicker replenishment of stock to avoid stockouts and backorders
So, when you plan to start your product assembly project in China, you have to ask your service provider about the lead time before starting the project. If they refuse to offer an accurate reply, they may not have confidence in dealing with your project or would rather make false promises than get things done properly. In this case, communication is key. Try to keep everything clear, concise, and to the point, so it’ll be easier for both parties to understand without confusion.
Not only your customers will be happy to purchase and receive products in a timely fashion, but also you will be delighted with the short lead time. This is especially true for Amazon sellers who need to optimize their inventory performance so they can avoid being out of stock and having to pay high warehouse fees because they are running out of space.
3. Use Quality Control Services
Customers expect you to deliver high-quality goods that meet their needs. If they receive defective products that don’t meet these expectations, it will damage your company.
Therefore, you should consider quality control services.
Quality control is an important process aimed at ensuring that the product quality meets your requirements and standards.
By conducting quality control during or after the product assembly process, you can determine whether the defective rate is within an acceptable range, which is a good way to improve efficiency. Because this provides assurance to both your business and your customers and minimizes loss.
If the defective rate is too high that you can’t feed up with it, you should talk to your supplier if they can offer a solution before shipping out faulty products.
4. Streamline the Logistics
Logistics chains are a lot more complicated these days than they used to be.
More than one company is involved in any given shipment, not to make mention the number of distributors and points for unloading or reloading cargo.
Moreover, due to Covid-19, international freights are in shortage, and logistics fees are going up.
Manufacturing and trading companies are trying to accomplish every logistics mission from start to finish and aim to do so in the fastest and cheapest way possible.
At this point, to improve efficiency and maintain costs, you can consider ordering consolidation services instead of shipping all products on your own.
A consolidation service is ideal if you wish to have all your goods shipped together as a single international shipment to minimize your shipping costs.
5. Work with an Experienced Supplier
Now that you have a better understanding of how to improve efficiency when getting products assembled in China, it is time to take these factors into consideration before making your final decisions about who will be your best fit to deal with your project.
Finding a supplier to assemble your product is easy in China. However, looking for an experienced and reliable supplier is still a time-consuming job.
Take your time and reach out to suppliers who have dealt with similar projects before, so there are fewer chances for making mistakes. Focus on finding an assembly partner that can provide both efficiency and high-quality output.
Partnering with Shield Works, founded in 2020, as an offshoot of the British-owned and managed C2W Group located in the South China Greater Bay Area, things will be easier.
Whether you are an established brand or a new startup, Shield Works is a reliable and professional partner providing customized manufacturing and precision assembly for Western companies who are fed up with poor product quality, lack of transparency, and are worried about reliability and delivery time from their Chinese suppliers.
We can build 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.
A Complete Guide to Choosing a Production Assembler
Did you know that 8% of startups fail due to poor product production? If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you’ve poured your heart and soul into designing and creating a product that you hope will be a big hit.
But even the best-designed products need to be manufactured properly in order to bring them to market, which is why finding the right production assembler is so important.
You could also outsource to an offshore manufacturer, which is always a great idea, however, finding the right production assembler is a critical step in your product’s lifecycle that you’ll need to ensure you’re paying special attention to.
Keep reading for a comprehensive guide on choosing a production assembler so that you’re able to reduce and control operating costs while improving the focus on core your business competencies.
What Is Production Assembly?
Before choosing the right product assembly services, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. So, what is production assembly and how does it relate to your business?
Production assembly is a process that involves putting together products from individual components. This can be done by hand or using machinery, and it often requires the use of tools and other machines.
The assembly process can vary depending on the product being made, but it typically involves several steps, such as installing or attaching parts, testing the fit and function of the product, and packaging the finished product.
Production assembly is a critical step in the manufacturing process, and it is often one of the most labor-intensive steps as well. As a result, it is important to carefully plan and execute the assembly process to ensure that products are made correctly and efficiently.
Why Hire a Production Assembler
You might be wondering why you should hire a production assembler. Why not just do it yourself with a local business or even let a member of your team do it? After all, it can’t be that difficult, right? Not so fast there.
There are a number of reasons why you should hire a professional production assembler. First, they have the experience and knowledge to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
And more importantly, they have the right tools and equipment to get the job done safely and correctly. They can also provide you with a warranty on their workmanship. And, in today’s day and age, that’s worth more than its weight in gold.
Finally, they will save you time and money in the long run. After all, you wouldn’t outsource your marketing work to a software developer. So why not entrust an experienced production assembly professional to help you with that process?
How Does Production Assembly Work
In short, a production assembler is usually part of a package deal that includes in-house customized precision assembly activities. However, this simply means they take care of all the production assembly for your business. This means that they will be responsible for putting together products, components, or parts in the most efficient way possible.
This could include anything from adding bubble wrap to the boxes or testing circuits. It truly all depends on what you need.
When it comes down to it, production assemblers are an important part of any business that relies on them to get products out the door and to customers as quickly as possible.
In order to be successful, production assembly teams need to be able to work quickly and efficiently while still ensuring that the final product is up to the company’s standards.
The process in general typically works by the types of assembly needed. For example, at Shield Works Precision Manufacturing, we offer:
- Mechanical Assembly Capabilities: This includes hardware assembly such as any tapping and drilling that needs to occur to get your product out
- General Product Assembly: From wood and metal to plastic and cardboard packaging, this service is designed for pretty much any product
- Electrical Assembly Capabilities: This service is designed more for those whose production assembly requires things like circuit testing or lifecycle testing
- Packaging Services: From adding bubble wrap, binding, and stuffing to shrink wrapping anything that needs to be shrink wrapped, this is usually the final step before shipment
What we’re really trying to say is that there are a variety of different production assembly services out there and the process looks different for each one.
The Benefits of Outsourcing Production
The globalization of the business world has led to a new era of outsourcing, and production assembly is one area that has seen a lot of growth in recent years.
There are several reasons why businesses choose to outsource this type of work, including cost savings, access to skilled labor, and increased efficiency.
Cost savings is often the primary motivator for companies that outsource production assembly. By moving production to a country with lower wages, businesses can reduce their overall costs.
This can be especially beneficial for companies that have high-volume or complex production needs. In addition, outsourcing can help businesses minimize the impact of fluctuating currency values, which is particularly relevant in today’s markets.
Access to skilled labor is another key advantage of outsourcing production assembly. In many cases, businesses that outsource their assembly work benefit from being able to tap into a larger pool of workers.
This can be especially helpful for businesses that have specific skill requirements for their assembly needs.
Additionally, outsourcing allows businesses to take advantage of specialized assembly services that might not be available in their home country.
Increased efficiency is another common reason why businesses choose to outsource production assembly. By working with a company that specializes in this type of work, businesses can often get their products assembled more quickly and efficiently.
How to Choose the Right Production Assembler for Your Business
You need a production assembler to help you put your product together. But with all of the different options out there, how do you know which one is right for your business? Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your decision.
Consider the Size of Your Business
The size of your business is an important consideration when choosing a production assembler. If you have a small business, you may not need the same level of automation that a large business requires.
For example, a small business might be able to get by with a manual assembly line, while a large business would need to invest in an automated assembly line. Consider the scale of your operations and choose a production assembler that can meet your needs.
Look at Experience
When you’re looking for a production assembler for your business, it’s important to consider experience. Look for someone who has worked in a similar industry and who has the skills necessary to put your products together quickly and efficiently.
It’s also important to find someone who is familiar with the assembly process and who can work independently. Furthermore, you’ll want to choose someone who is reliable and who will show up on time for each shift.
Look for someone who has a strong work ethic and who is detail-oriented. With the right production assembler on your team, you’ll be able to increase efficiency and improve your bottom line.
Get a Sense of Customer Service
Choosing a production assembler is a long-term commitment. Therefore, you want to enjoy the relationship! How responsive are they when you have questions or problems? How easy is it to get in touch with someone when you need them?
The better their customer service, the easier it will be to work with them on an ongoing basis.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Manufacturer
Before you choose a manufacturer, there are a few things you should keep in mind outside of the three points mentioned above.
First, consider the type of product you’re looking to have manufactured. Some manufacturers specialize in certain types of products, so it’s important to find one that has experience with the type of product you’re looking for.
Additionally, take into account the number of products you need. Some manufacturers have minimum order requirements, so be sure to find one that can accommodate your needs.
And, don’t forget to factor in the cost! You’ll want to find a manufacturer that offers competitive pricing without sacrificing quality.
Prefer to see things listed out easily for you to scan when choosing a manufacturer? When it comes down to it, here are three easy ways to start looking at potential production assembly partners:
- Cost: Obviously, the cost is a major consideration when choosing a manufacturer. You’ll need to get quotes from several different companies and compare prices. It’s also important to consider other costs, such as shipping and taxes.
- Quality: Another important factor to consider is quality. You’ll want to make sure that the products you’re getting from the manufacturer are of the highest quality. Be sure to ask for samples before making a final decision.
- Delivery Time: This ties into the number of products you need as you’ll have to consider how long it will take for the products to be delivered. If you need them quickly, you’ll need to find a manufacturer that can meet your timeline.
These are just a few of the things to keep in mind when choosing a manufacturer. By taking the time to do your research, you can be sure that you’re making the best decision for your business.
Additional Tips for Choosing a Manufacturer
We hope we’ve helped you understand how important it is to do your research when you’re looking for a manufacturer. If you’re still having trouble then here are a few additional tips to keep in mind:
- Check out the facility. Is it clean and well-organized? This is a good sign that the manufacturer takes pride in their work.
- Ask about lead times. How long will it take for your order to be fulfilled? You don’t want to be left waiting months for your product.
- Get quotes from multiple manufacturers. This will give you a better idea of who is offering the best value for your money.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to find a manufacturer that meets your needs and expectations. However, be sure that they’re also helping you improve your bottom line.
Ultimately, we urge you to look for a company that is able to provide you with rapid, clear, and transparent communications throughout production along with full in-house quality control to internationally recognized standards.
If that’s what you’re looking for then we suggest you…
Consider Product Assembly Services With Shield Works
All in all, we’ve seen that the decision to outsource production assembly is often driven by the need to reduce costs. However, there are other benefits that can be achieved by outsourcing this activity.
From the ability to free up internal resources that can be better used elsewhere to accessing specialized expertise and equipment that would otherwise be unavailable, outsourcing production assembly is a great idea.
And, the benefits of choosing a production assembler in China are even more numerous, at least when you work with Shield Works Precision Manufacturing.
You’re able to enjoy the benefits of working with a 100% British team while still enjoying the ease and cost of being able to eliminate third-party QC man-day costs and strip away the layers from your supply chain.
Looking to launch a new product with assembly requirements or relocate your assembly from an existing China-based assembly house? Get in touch today!
Product Assembly In China: 5 Common Mistakes And How To Avoid
Today, overseas businesses of all sizes are outsourcing product assembly to Chinese companies as part of their overall outsourcing strategy.
There are many benefits to this approach, including reducing costs and improving efficiency. However, business owners should be prepared to work with Chinese suppliers who have different perspectives on product standards and quality control than what you may use before.
However, dealing with Chinese product assembly suppliers requires skills and experience. To reduce the number of assembly mistakes in your products, here are seven ways you can start reducing errors during the product assembly process.
Not Verifying The Supplier
Your customer satisfaction has a direct correlation with product quality. Yet, a lot of times companies don’t see mistakes or quality issues until it’s too late.
The biggest cause of product assembly errors is skipping over a supplier’s due diligence.
There are certain protocols every entrepreneur should follow when it comes to verifying suppliers, but one major aspect involves verifying their capabilities by checking their certifications and audit reports. Entrepreneurs should be sure they go through all available measures before accepting a quote from a prototyping manufacturer—doing so could save them from headaches down the road.
Only in this way can you confirm if your supplier owns their facilities or is a middleman.
Not Communicating Clearly
The assembly line is a huge component of manufacturing, and it’s where most errors occur.
It’s no surprise that misunderstandings often happen between Westerners and Chinese people. When you and your assembly partner aren’t on the same page, problems will undoubtedly arise.
In this case, it’s important to clarify expectations beforehand, anticipate problems before they arise, and encourage an open flow of communication so anything problematic can be taken care of sooner rather than later.
To avoid confusion, when communicating with your Chinese partner, you must be clear and concise in everything you say. You should try using brief words so that it will take less time for them to understand what you’re trying to convey.
Not Eliminate Unnecessary Processes
Although eliminating all manufacturing errors may not be a realistic option, you can eliminate non-essential processes during product assembly to reduce costs and timeframes.
This step is an easy one for some manufacturers—but for others, it’s something that must be worked toward over time.
A great way to start is by being honest with yourself about what processes are essential and which ones are not. You may be surprised by how much you can cut back without hurting quality.
Not Setting Up Sample Tests
On a product-assembly line, setting up sample tests can be run throughout each shift.
These tests can be used to test workers and catch problems before they result in big mistakes. Include enough checks and balances on each test that they’re impossible to fail without making an error.
For example, if assembly involves inserting a screw into an electrical component, include wire connectors on your sample piece so workers know what is correct for installation. If a worker tries to install it incorrectly, he or she will have to remove it and start over.
If you don’t include these extra components, there will be no way of knowing whether or not your worker did something wrong until after he or she has completed his or her work.
With sample tests, any errors will become apparent right away and can be corrected immediately—or prevented from happening at all—before they snowball into bigger issues later in production.
Not Conducting Product Inspection
As you may know, it’s impossible that there is zero defect in making and assembling the product.
And you may need to know what type of defect is in your product and how can it affect your product functionality.
By recognizing and fixing errors during assembly, you’ll maintain high product quality and reduce financial losses. The more you know, the more you can do to improve your product.
In this case, it’s a good idea to conduct an inspection to check the product quality for you. If you don’t, you’ll be accepting a level of risk that may not be necessary.
An experienced inspector can find the major defect in the product and write a detailed report, so you have no reason to worry about the customers complaining about the product quality.
The Solution For Your Assembly Project
Sometimes, finishing a product assembly project can seem like an insurmountable challenge.
If you are considering outsourcing your assembly and are unsure where to start, Shield Work is here to help you make this process easier.
We own an IP protection flagship facility to conduct activities from manufacturing, and product assembly to quality inspection and warehousing.
With our British ownership and management background, we take pride in our international experience and we know what works and what doesn’t! Contact us for a no-cost consultation!
How To Evaluate A Product Assembly Company In China: 5 Strategies To Success
As the global pandemic is continually spreading, and China insists on the zero-Covid strategy, it’s getting harder for many overseas businesses to find a product assembly company for their products.
Thankfully, you don’t have to go at it alone. Here are five strategies that will help make finding the right assembly partner much easier.
Experience
Experience is an important factor to consider when reaching out to an assembly supplier.
Nearly all of the assembly suppliers claim that they have relevant experience in dealing with any type of product so you have the confidence to work with them. But remember, some assembly companies are better at certain types of products than others. It’s better for you to partner with those who specialize in your product.
In this case, you should be careful to identify if they are telling truth. Try to clarify the questions below:
- When did the assembly plant start?
- How many engineers do you have?
- What are the processes to assemble my product?
- Have you worked on a similar project before? What was it like?
- Have you worked with an overseas business?
By answering these questions, you can figure out if the information provided to you is relevant, up to date, and available in real-time.
Capacity
The second thing you need to do is to assess your potential assembly partner’s capacity.
You don’t want to send your product and money somewhere it will sit on a shelf or in a warehouse waiting to be assembled. To ensure you won’t get stuck with products that aren’t being assembled as fast as they can, make sure you know exactly how much production space your assembly partner has is available.
If you have any concerns about their ability to meet your demand and requirements, ask them directly about their current output rate and deadline.
Don’t risk losing out on profits by making an assembly partner overburdened with your orders—go with someone who knows what they are doing.
Certifications
Not all China product assembly companies are created equally.
No matter how well-established the assembly plant is, there still may be a possibility that they don’t have proper certifications and licenses.
So, if you are concerned whether your product is being produced and assembled in compliance with regulatory standards, ensure your supplier has the relevant business licenses to operate their facility as well as any relevant compliance certifications to manufacture and assemble your product.
Here are some common ISO certifications, including:
- ISO 9001:2015: Quality Management Systems
- ISO 14001:2015: Environmental Management Systems
- ISO 45001:2015: Occupational Health And Safety
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management
Each product or industry requires different kinds of certifications. So Each product in China requires a different kind of certificates and documents. So, always ask to check the required materials for assembling your product before any order confirmation.
Language Proficiency
One of the biggest headaches for overseas businesses to find an assembly supplier is language.
Consider working with those who have English background and speak English fluently. Although now more and more Chinese people speak English, it’s still possible to lead to misunderstanding certain points.
Therefore, remember the two principles when communicating with Chinese suppliers:
- Open – Though you and your supplier speak the same language, there is a gap in knowledge and logic that leads to misunderstandings. So try to be open and straightforward in your conversation to make both sides on the same page.
- Precise – Precision communication is fundamental to a long-term partnership. Describing your needs and requirements precisely can reduce the workload for both parties.
Services
Assembly service providers have traditionally relied on low-cost to gain a competitive edge.
But times have changed.
Nowadays, the costs of labor and land are no longer as cheap as before. More and more assembly plants are offering tailored service and support so these can be key considerations when partnering with an assembly company.
There are some assembly companies offering one-stop services from quality inspection and testing to warehousing and fulfillment, which release you from finding other services one by one.
About Shield Works
Finding a reliable and professional product assembly partner will help to boost your business by avoiding high-defect rates and unexpected delays.
Shield Work, a leading product assembly service provider in China, is ready to help you assemble your products with our well-established facility. Contact us to discuss your project today.
Electrical Assembly In China: 5 Things You Should Need To Know
If you’re looking to assemble your products in China and want to do it as cost-effectively as possible, then it’s important to find the right assembly partner before you get started. Doing so will help you stay on track and keep your costs low without sacrificing quality or speed of delivery.
However, how do you find the right assembly partner? How can you be sure they have all the equipment they need? What should you pay attention to when interviewing them? Keep reading to learn 5 things that you need to know when finding the right assembly partner in China.
1) Get Ready – What Information Do You Need?
Before you begin your search for a reliable assembly partner, there are a few things you’ll need to prepare.
If you don’t know what kind of electrical assemblies your company needs, you won’t be able to find a viable assembly partner. So, make sure what electronical assembly service you will need for your products.
Typically, there are 5 electronical assembly techniques:
- Wiring
- Wiring harnesses
- Connectors
- Clamps
- Switches
If you know exactly what you want your supplier to do and how much it will cost per piece, then you should have no problem finding a great Chinese assembly supplier.
2) Where Do I Start – How Can I Approach Vendors?
When seeking out an assembly partner in China – something that may seem easy on paper – you’ll face many obstacles along your way.
As you may know, they’re a lot of fraud factories in China. When a factory knows it will be completely shutting down, its owner will take back the case without noticing their foreign clients. Because they know you are far away from them and you can not check their account.
So try to work with those who are searchable online. Click to their websites and social platforms and read about their reviews and case studies.
You can also go to some online forums to ask someone that has worked with a good electronical assembly company for more information.
Before diving into your hunt, there are 5 questions you should ask:
- Wha’s your budget?
- What type of product do you want to be made?
- What material do you want to use?
- How much time do you have before production begins?
- How large of a batch will you need to produce?
3) What to Look for – How Can I Evaluate Vendors?
A good electrical assembly vendor will have an assembly facility that can assemble your items with precision and quality.
However, if a vendor claims that they have a team of professional engineers and skilled workers to charge more, you should be careful with that. Some vendors in China may not even have factories, and they outsource all of their orders.
So, when you evaluate a vendor, it’s better to visit their facility in person. In this case, you will have a better understanding of such elements:
- Physical environment: size, layout, equipment and manufacturing capabilities
- Working condition: workplace safety and mode
- Culture: departments and working hours, certifications
Plant tours are one of the most valuable activities you should do before partnering with a potential assembly vendor, especially if you want to work on large-scale projects with them.
3) Prepare Yourself – Can You Manage the Process?
Before going through with an electronical assembly company, you will have to make sure that you are capable of managing your supplier.
What does that mean?
If you are a business owner and you are not familiar with all aspects of electrical assembly, it will be quite hard for you to learn everything step by step. In this case, it is a good idea to contact a professional agency or experienced consultant who can help guide and educate you on what goes into setting up an electrical assembly operation.
And understanding that there are language barriers when working with your supplier is inevitable since most factory owners do not speak English well. So try to keep your requirements simple to be understood for both sides.
Also, maintaining relationships with your product assembly company is essential in China. Earning your supplier’s trust and involving them in your project from the earliest stages ensure they become a strategic partner, which is vested in the project’s success.
5) What Next – After I’ve Signed an Agreement?
Now that you have compared some potential suppliers and you are about to finalise a perfect one for you, what’s next?
At this stage, you should learn more about the agreement.
If you have an IP right on your product, make sure that your supplier has a non-disclosure agreement to safeguard your trademarks or logos.
Let Shield Works Be Your IP Protective Manufacturing Partner
Our assembly service at Shield Works is a combination of reliability, cost-efficiency, and punctuality.
With our British ownership and management background, we have full capacity to help our overseas clients to assemble their products without IP rights risks.
Our product assembly team is so skilled and experienced that we can guarantee 100% satisfaction. Contact us to discuss your project today.
How To Choose The Right Product Assembly Supplier In China?
Partnering with a product assembly company in China can help grow your business and save you money by allowing you to order more products without building an in-house assembly line.
However, finding the right product assembly partner isn’t always easy and problems often arise due to business misunderstandings.
To mitigate any issues there are some important things to know before you get started.
Know What You Want From A Product Assembly Supplier
First and foremost, you should have a clear idea of what you want from your suppliers.
Some small companies jump into outsourcing without any clear vision of what they want and what they need at the beginning, which can lead to major problems down the road.
Therefore, make sure you’re very clear about your expectations and standards.
The more details you provide to your assembly supplier, the easier it will be for them to achieve your goal.
Enquiry about expertise in your industry
Before deciding which product assembly supplier is the best for your project, you need to know if they have experienced with similar products in your specific industry.
For example, if you need to get some electronic parts assembled, but you choose a supplier that merely focuses on toys assembly, you may encounter troubles down the line.
Ideally, you want to find an expert within your niche who has several years under their belt and at least one other completed successful product assembly project.
If not, a lack of expertise can often lead to delays and added costs down the road as manufacturers learn on-the-fly rather than preparing beforehand.
If they aren’t willing or able to discuss their background and expertise during early conversations, it’s probably time to look elsewhere.
Finding a partner that fits in both categories is rare, but possible if you do some research and ask around (or bring on an expert yourself).
Ensure Your Intellectual Property Rights Are Protected
Your company’s intellectual property rights are one of your most valuable assets.
Before choosing a Chinese product assembly partner, it’s important to understand how your intellectual property is protected.
With so many companies in China today, it is hard to determine which ones are qualified and care for their customers’ IP. Therefore, it’s also a good idea to check if your supplier has any patent infringement history.
Additionally, it would be better to ask your supplier if they have any experience working on IP issues.
Keep in mind that you should ask your suppliers if they have intellectual property (IP) agreements before cooperation.
Make sure that you have an agreement in place that protects your intellectual property (IP) rights when you transfer technologies to a third-party company. There are many kinds of IP protection agreements available, so choose wisely. You may want to consult with experienced legal counsel.
Avoid Common Pitfalls With Product Quality
One more important factor you should keep in mind is how to avoid common pitfalls with product quality.
Poor-quality products will only hurt your business and tarnish your brand.
To avoid problems as best as possible, here are three keys to remember:
1) . Be clear and concise about your product requirements and expectations.
2) Investigate and work with your assembly supplier to ensure your product complies with the regulations of the final market.
3) Follow up throughout production and communicate effectively.
Let Shield Works Take Care of Your Product Assembly
Choosing a product assembly service provider in China is not an easy job, especially when you want to hire someone professional and reliable.
If you’re looking for an outsourcing partner in China, look no further than Shield Works.
Shield Works provides customized OEM manufacturing and assembly activities to meet your business’s needs. Contact us today.
Which Industries Benefit the Most From Product Assembly in China?
Globally, companies realize the benefits of manufacturing their goods in China. However, you might wonder which industries benefit the most from product assembly there.
Today, we’ll take a look at the industries that benefit from manufacturing in this nation. Keep reading to learn more about which industries benefit the most from product assembly in China.
China and the Global Marketplace
Around the world, there’s a wealth of goods that were made in partnership with a China assembly service. Some companies manufacture their goods in China because of the abundance of affordable employees.
Also, China’s ecosystem of suppliers, component manufacturers, and distributors has evolved. Now, the nation is a more cost-effective and efficient place to manufacture many products.
Years ago, many individuals migrated to China seeking work. Now, the labor pool in China enables the region to produce goods cost-effectively and in bulk.
Furthermore, China factories can meet any seasonal industry requirements. They can even help your company to meet unexpected fulfillment needs for sudden rises in demand.
Doing Business in China
Manufacturers in China don’t operate in a silo. Instead, they rely on a network of competent business partners. These partners include:
• Clients
• Component manufacturers
• Distributors
• Government agencies
• Suppliers
Together, these partners facilitate efficient production through competition and cooperation. In fact, the business ecosystem for product assembly services in China has evolved considerably over the last three decades.
Big Players in Product Assembly in China
Shenzhen borders Southeast Hong Kong. The area has become a hub for the electronics industry.
It’s cultivated an effective ecosystem for meeting companies’ manufacturing and supply chain needs. This ecosystem includes component manufacturers.
Also, the area’s factories employ affordable workers. However, part of the local workforce also consists of a highly skilled technical workforce.
Area manufacturers also partner with assembly suppliers. Moreover, they work closely with their clients.
Some of the most well-known and biggest brands in the world have realized the advantage of manufacturing and product assembly in China. For example, Apple Inc. leverages China’s supply chain efficiency. The partnership helps to keep the company’s costs low and its profit margins high.
FoxConn Technology Group is another major company that operates in China. It works with several suppliers and manufacturers of components in the area.
In fact, several industries rely heavily on OEM manufacturing in China.
Industries That Rely on Product Assembly in China
The global economy is expanding. Simultaneously, companies are struggling to meet the increasing demands of consumers.
As a result, a growing number of companies around the world are outsourcing manufacturing and product assembly to China. By doing so, these companies can afford to produce more products. More importantly, they can keep pace with rising consumer demand.
Still, there are some industries, in particular, that benefit from partnering with China. Let’s have a look at them.
Electronics
Electronics are one of the top goods exported with the help of manufacturing in China. In the United States, for instance, consumers are passionate about electronics.
The citizens of China represent only about 40% of end-users of electronics. Most of the electronics manufactured in the country are for export.
Some experts forecast that reliance on product assembly in China will continue to grow over the next decade. Around the world, there’s no sign that the demand for consumer electronics is slowing. As a result, a growing number of electronics companies will likely turn to China to support their operations.
Medical Supplies
A considerable number of medical equipment firms source product assembly in China. The devices designed by the medical field save lives. They also help to improve the quality of life for patients.
Their partnership with regional manufacturers helps to curtail costs. Most importantly, medical equipment companies continue to work with manufacturers in China because they consistently receive high-quality products.
Plastics
There’s no place on the planet that doesn’t use plastic goods. No matter where you go, you’ll see goods made of plastic. In part, companies can keep up with the demand for plastic goods because of their relationship with manufacturers in China.
Many of the things that people use daily are a result of contract manufacturing in China. There’s plastic in nearly every tool, toy, and component.
Factories in China continually output plastic toys, electronic devices, and parts. It’s in all the top manufactured products in various consumer industries.
People rely on these goods every day. As a result, the plastic industry’s reliance on OEM manufacturing in China will likely continue.
Textiles
Factories in China produce an incredible amount of clothing and textiles. In fact, clothing and textiles are the top exports in China.
Many United States companies sell textiles made in China. Manufacturing in China is a vital part of the fashion industry.
As with other industries, manufacturing in China enables companies to produce high-quality, affordable goods. Moreover, the production capacity of OEM manufacturers in China enables the fashion industry to meet the ever-increasing speed of today’s fashion cycles.
A Trusted Manufacturing Partner in China
Now, you know a bit more about which industries benefit the most from product assembly in China. Still, have you ever thought about how your company could take advantage of working with suppliers and manufacturers there?
If you want to learn more about working with companies in China, Shield Works Precision Manufacturing can help.
Our warehouse and manufacturing facility is located in the heart of Zhuhai City near the South China Greater Bay area. We provide custom OEM manufacturing, assembly, and warehousing. For more than 16 years, Shield Works Precision Manufacturing has worked with a growing international client base.
Please feel free to contact us today to learn more about risk-free, high-quality manufacturing solutions in China.