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OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) manufacturing is a business model in which a company contracts with another company to produce parts or finished products that the first company will sell under its own brand.

In-house production, on the other hand, is the process of producing goods within a company’s own facilities, using its own resources and workforce.

Both OEM manufacturing and in-house production have their own set of benefits and challenges, and companies must weigh the pros and cons of each approach to determine the best fit for their needs.

Pros

Cost-Saving

One of the main benefits of OEM manufacturing is cost savings. OEM manufacturers often have specialized equipment and processes that allow them to produce goods more efficiently and at a lower cost than companies that produce goods in-house.

This can be particularly beneficial for companies that do not have the resources or expertise to produce certain products themselves.

OEM manufacturing can also allow companies to scale their production more quickly, as they can leverage the existing production capacity of their OEM partners rather than building and maintaining their own facilities.

Focused on Core Competence

Another advantage of OEM manufacturing is the ability to focus on core competencies. By outsourcing non-core production activities to OEM partners, companies can free up resources and focus on their core competencies, such as research and development, marketing, and sales.

This can help them to be more competitive and innovative in their market.

Cons

Loss of Control

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to OEM manufacturing. One concern is the potential loss of control over the production process.

When companies outsource production to OEM partners, they may have less visibility into and influence over the production process, which can lead to issues with quality, delivery, or compliance.

It is important for companies to carefully manage their OEM relationships and establish clear lines of communication and expectations to minimize these risks.

IP Risk

Another challenge of OEM manufacturing is the potential loss of intellectual property. When companies share their designs and technology with OEM partners, there is a risk that this information could be leaked or copied. To protect their intellectual property, companies must have strong contracts in place and carefully manage their relationships with OEM partners.

However, in-house production can also be more expensive than OEM manufacturing. Companies must invest in their own production facilities, equipment, and workforce, which can be a significant upfront cost.

In-house production can also be less flexible than OEM manufacturing, as it requires a more permanent and fixed production capacity. This can be a disadvantage for companies that need to scale their production up or down quickly in response to changes in demand.

Why a Good OEM Manufacturer Can Help You Overcome These Drawbacks

There’s always a solution to every problem. How to overcome these OEM challenges so that you can minimize the risk and fully enjoy its benefits?

One effective way is to work with an OEM manufacturer. Let the professional do their work.

But how to ensure that your product is in good hands? Here are a few key qualities to look for:

Strong communication

A great manufacturing company will have strong communication processes in place to ensure that there are clear lines of communication and expectations between the company and its OEM partners. This includes regular updates on production progress, alerts about any potential issues, and an open-door policy for addressing concerns or questions.

Quality control

A great manufacturing company will have robust quality control processes in place to ensure that the products they produce meet the standards of their clients. This may include measures such as inspections, testing, and certification to ensure that products meet relevant quality, safety, and regulatory standards.

IP protection

A great manufacturing company will have strong processes in place to protect their clients’ intellectual property. This may include measures such as non-disclosure agreements, licensing agreements, and technology transfer agreements to ensure that clients’ designs and technology are kept confidential. A great manufacturing company will also have robust processes in place to prevent the unauthorized use or reproduction of clients’ intellectual property.

Compliance

A great manufacturing company will be compliant with relevant laws and regulations, including labor laws, environmental regulations, and intellectual property laws. This ensures that their products are produced ethically and sustainably, and helps to protect their clients’ intellectual property.

Flexibility

A great manufacturing company will be flexible and able to adapt to changing customer needs and market conditions. This may include being able to scale production up or down quickly in response to changes in demand or offering custom solutions to meet specific needs.

Innovation

A great manufacturing company will be innovative and constantly seeking ways to improve their processes and products. This may include investing in new technologies, implementing lean manufacturing principles, or developing new products and services.

In conclusion, both OEM manufacturing and in-house production have their own set of benefits and challenges. Companies must carefully weigh the pros and cons of each approach to determine the best fit for their needs.

If you are looking for a great OEM manufacturer that check all the boxes of the aforementioned criteria, look no further than Shield Works. Our transparency, flexibility and integrity are proven by our over 17 years in the industry and our IP-Protective Production Zone. Contact us now!

It’s easier than ever to get your products manufactured in China, with resources such as Alibaba, Quora, and Google Translate at your disposal. But having a reliable Chinese manufacturer isn’t just about knowing how to communicate with them; it’s also about understanding how the whole process works and what your role is in it. Here are the top five tips for ensuring smooth communication with your Chinese manufacturer to help you get started.

1) Have a clear idea of what you want

Before you go contacting manufacturers in China, spend some time to really figure out what it is that you want. Don’t just say I want a cheap product made in China. Get specific. Look at different products that are similar to yours and decide exactly how your product will differ. And if there are aspects of your product that can be improved upon, do it! It’s always a good idea to outdo your competition.  The more detail you put into your product from start to finish, the better off you’ll be when it comes time to communicate with your manufacturer.

Find a model or sample if you can for reference. A picture is worth a thousand words, and seeing exactly what you want will help your manufacturer understand exactly what it is that you’re looking for. They may even be able to point out design flaws in your product that you hadn’t considered before! It may seem like an extra step, but it could save time and money in the long run.

If your product requires any specialized parts, make sure to get those details sorted out early on as well. If there are specific types of wood that need to be used or special kinds of metal, make sure to clarify that from day one so there aren’t any problems later on down the line when it comes time to actually produce your product.

2) Be clear on expectation and deadlines

If you’re planning to work with a Chinese manufacturer, make sure your requests are as clear and specific as possible. Make deadlines clear and enforceable, otherwise there is no incentive for your team to stick to them. If a situation arises that requires changes or exceptions, have a separate process in place (such as checklists) to make sure everyone on both sides knows what’s going on. Good communication saves time and money—two things every business wants more of.

That’s why it’s advisable to find a manufacturer with their own production facility, preferably in the same city or anywhere within three-hour drive. This way you can easily check on your products and make sure everything is going according to plan. It also means that you don’t have to worry about shipping costs and delays from faraway locations. Finally, if something goes wrong, you’ll be able to respond quickly—and save face by fixing things before they get out of hand.

3) Know how the factory and its QC operates

We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to build an in-depth understanding of how your factory runs and what your QC protocols are. A deep understanding will help prevent issues, save you time and money, as well as help you work more effectively throughout your manufacturing process. There’re so many independent vetting services in China you can turn to. You’ll find them on Alibaba or by Googling independent QA checker or independent quality control checker. You’ll also want to make sure you understand exactly who your QC inspector is and that they have a good track record of working with other western companies. If you don’t know who they are, ask! Ask to speak directly with them or their supervisor if possible. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to communication breakdowns between yourself and your manufacturer!

Although there’re many independent QC services with a history of working with western firms, if you insist on one that shares a similar cultural background with you, Shield Works has its root in the UK with years of QC experience in the industry that you can fully rely on.

4) Get someone local in China that you can talk to

Even if you don’t speak Mandarin, there are still ways to ensure you get your message across. If you’re traveling to China yourself, a translator is a must-have. But given the current travel restrictions, it is not an option to physically be there. So what do you do? You can hire someone local in China that can act as a liaison between you and your manufacturer. They should have experience working with Westerners and can translate information from both sides of communication (i.e., from English to Mandarin and vice versa). They will help bridge any language barriers that may exist and make sure everyone is on the same page regarding deadlines, expectations, etc. This will help reduce confusion and miscommunication that could lead to delays or other issues down the road.

But most manufacturers there now have bilingual team members that have no problem communicating with you in your language. if you manage to find one with a western background like Shield Works, that’ll save you a lot of efforts!

5) Keep your language plain and simple

This may seem obvious, but be sure to speak clearly and concisely. If there’s anything you don’t understand about what you need to accomplish or convey, don’t guess or fill in gaps with assumptions. If a word confuses you, go back and get clarification. Try to avoid using big words as it can make it harder to understand for non-native speaks. Keep your language simple

Remember that your goal is communication—not simply understanding what someone is saying to you. Successful communication requires that both parties feel confident they have a full understanding of one another’s intentions before moving forward on any project or task. Otherwise, confusion will quickly ensue; misunderstandings can lead to delays and even make-or-break moments down the road. The more time you spend ensuring that everyone understands each other, the less time it takes to complete tasks. A little upfront work now can save a lot of headaches later.

By following these five tips, you’ll be on your way to having a smooth process of communication with your manufacturer and start working together to create a great product. Shield Works is one that comes with their own manufacturing facility located exactly where the headquarter is, and bilingual team members as long as 17 years of manufacturing in China under their belt. Contact us today!

Whenever you’re sourcing products in China, it’s always a good idea to have quality control measures in place. These will ensure that your products are as strong and durable as they need to be, so that customers continue to buy them and recommend them to their friends and family members. However, it can often be difficult to save money on quality control when working with Chinese suppliers. Here are five tips for reducing costs on quality control in China.

1) Use 3rd-Party Inspection Services

Third-party inspection services will typically charge a fee for their services but will also help streamline communication between your factory and yourself. They’ll also help prevent any language barriers from interfering with communication. A third-party inspector will typically visit your production facility once per month during production runs, which means you’ll still need to conduct regular inspections via Skype or other methods yourself throughout each month. But by using third-party inspectors regularly throughout production cycles, you can ensure that problems don’t go unnoticed until after goods have been shipped off to customers. When it comes to quality control in China, a little bit of extra effort now could save you thousands of dollars later on.

2) Build Relationships With Suppliers

Your China manufacturing operation is only as good as your supplier relationships. That’s a fact. When suppliers deliver on time, meet quality requirements and are flexible when you need them to be, then you can feel confident in putting your product in front of consumers. But if a supplier flubs an order (or multiple orders), doesn’t pay attention to details or otherwise cuts corners that affects quality, it will be reflected in customer perception of your brand—and eventually sales results. Unfortunately, there’s no simple solution here because every situation is different, but there are ways to help minimize risk of problems with suppliers and still find high-quality products at a price point that makes sense for your business.  Having a solid relationship with your China manufacturer will help ensure all goes well from start to finish so as to save for quality control later.

3) Find Suppliers You Can Talk To

As we just mentioned, it’s crucial to build a good relationship with your suppliers. If you have a supplier that will work closely with you, you will have peace of mind knowing that your products are being built as per your specifications and on time. This can save you thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs on quality control inspection and rework if your supplier is lax about following instructions. Since many China manufacturers don’t speak English well, try to find someone who can understand what you need or use an agency or translator who specializes in working with Chinese manufacturers. Also make sure to check references before doing business with any new supplier.

4) Get Critical Feedback While Your Product Is Being Manufactured

One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when manufacturing a product is assuming that everyone is as invested in its success as they are. But often you’ll be working with multiple vendors, each responsible for a different component of your finished product. Without directly collaborating with all vendors, it can be hard to spot inconsistencies—like inferior fabric or mismatched parts—until too late in production. The easiest way to catch these and other problems early on is by getting critical feedback from suppliers and manufacturers while your product is being made. While it’s impossible to ensure perfection, taking advantage of communication can help limit any mishaps during production so they don’t cost you time or money later down the line.

5) Get Involved in the Production Process

When you’re manufacturing overseas, quality control is a crucial issue. If there are quality issues with your product or manufacturing process, that means you will lose time, money and a lot of reputation. The best way to overcome quality problems is to get involved in QC yourself. A first step would be to try testing out parts of your production process at each stage before you send it off for mass production. This will make sure that whatever defects happen are caught early on and can be corrected as early as possible, with minimal cost and effort. With current travel restrictions, most likely you won’t be physically there in China. Make sure to find one that can livestream the whole process or any trusted 3rd-party inspection services to test it out for you.

Overall, quality control is one of those things that may seem small in terms of overall costs and time, but it can make a significant difference to your bottom line in both ways. It’s never too early or too late to start improving your QC. Shield Works has over 17 years of QC experience with our own professional team, contact us if you are in need of QC service in China!

If you’re planning to manufacture and assemble electronics overseas, you might be wondering how outsourcing your product assembly to China can benefit your business. There are many benefits that come with manufacturing in China including lower costs, shorter lead times, and higher quality of products. These are just some of the perks of outsourcing product assembly to China that you should know about when deciding where to base your manufacturing operations or e-commerce distribution center. You can find out more about these advantages below.

Reducing Costs

According to a study from 2005, China has one of the highest costs of labor in Asia. However, other studies suggest that shipping products across oceans makes China an attractive location for manufacturing in terms of overall costs. Either way, saving money on product assembly will help your bottom line immensely. Manufacturers outsourcing their assembly process are typically able to cut between 20% and 50% off their product cost; without outsourcing, you could probably make a very similar product at a cost-per-unit profit comparable to or even greater than that of your competitors. It’s no wonder why so many manufacturers have chosen to outsource product assembly: The benefits are clear.

Improving Time to Market

It’s no secret that time-to-market is a major factor in determining success for new products. Starting with a lean manufacturing strategy can really improve your company’s ability to quickly get products onto store shelves and out into homes. Before you start building your product, consider if it makes sense to outsource product assembly or even electronics manufacturing. If done correctly, outsourcing certain parts of production can make prototyping faster, reduce costs and improve overall efficiency in product assembly and time-to-market. In addition, outsourcing electronics manufacturing overseas may allow you access to better talent at lower costs than you’d find domestically.

Improving Quality Control

One of the most important aspects of electronic manufacturing is your company’s quality control. All products, regardless of complexity, have at least one critical element that keeps them working properly: a single connector or set of wires, an integrated circuit or a battery. You must take special care when making these elements because any mistake can mean disaster for your customers. That’s why hiring outsourced workers to manufacture your product assembly allows you to retain more control over production than you would in-house manufacturing: When someone is actually constructing a product on your behalf in another country, they know they only have one shot at creating something that works perfectly every time—or it’s not going back on an airplane with them.

Increasing Customer Satisfaction

When it comes to outsourcing, customer satisfaction is just as important as cost. The most common mistake of new electronics manufacturers is trying to save money by selecting a vendor that cuts corners. This can lead to a lot of headaches further down the line, including returns and re-work. Start off right by finding an experienced partner with a proven track record in product assembly and electronic manufacturing services. You’ll have greater peace of mind knowing that you’re on your way to growing a successful business—not just doing business in China. Also, its time-saving benefit can also contribute to better customer satisfaction by keeping your design team focused on what they do best – designing new products! There’s nothing worse than spending hours making minor tweaks to an existing product when there are millions of dollars worth of opportunities out there just waiting for a new idea. Product design is where you’ll see huge improvements by hiring experienced engineers and designers with experience working with complex electronics like yours.

Helping Understand the Chinese Electronics Manufacturing Ecosystem

In China, product assembly work can be done through a large number of vendors. As a result, you have many different firms that are capable of handling specific tasks in your manufacturing process. To benefit from these resources, it is important to understand how they fit into the Chinese electronics ecosystem and what services they can provide. But to grasp each type of organization involved in electronics manufacturing in China can be very challenging for someone new to the country. It will be much easier for you to find an outsourced partner that can complete a specific stage of your production line and bridge all the gaps together with other departments for the output of quality products.

Shield Works is one of your best choices with a self-owned IP protected, in-house bilingual engineering team and over 16 years of experience of manufacturing in China for clients worldwide, including product assembly. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested.