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Join Renaud Anjoran, Founder & CEO of Sofeast, in this podcast aimed at importers who develop their own products as he discusses the hottest topics and shares actionable tips for manufacturing in China & Asia today! WHO IS RENAUD? Renaud is a French ISO 9001 & 14001 certified lead auditor, ASQ certified Quality Engineer and Quality Manager who has been working in the Chinese manufacturing industry since 2005. He is the founder of the Sofeast group that has over 200 staff globally and offers services (QA, product development & engineering, project management, Supply Chain Management, product compliance, reliability testing), contract manufacturing, and 3PL fulfillment for importers and businesses who develop their own products and buyers from China & SE Asia. WHY LISTEN? We‘ll discuss interesting topics for anyone who develops and sources their products from Asian suppliers and will share Renaud‘s decades of manufacturing experience, as well as inviting guests from the industry to get a different viewpoint. Our goal is to help you get better results and end up with suppliers and products that exceed your expectations!
Episodes
Friday Mar 17, 2023
Friday Mar 17, 2023
In this episode...
Sofeast's reliability expert, Andrew Amirnovin, joins Adrian to explore the topic of Design for Reliability (DfR) in detail. He explains the process you need to go through to avoid unreliable products, some warnings about what an unreliable product may end up looking or behaving like, and how the DfR process should be implemented and some commonly overlooked secrets so you know how to implement it yourself.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing the topic of DfR.
01:08 - What is DfR and its objectives?
04:29 - What makes an unreliable product?
20:26 - What are some of the secrets to applying DfR that people need to know about?
23:08 - Recap: The best engineering practices for reliability.
24:32 - The process we follow to reduce our clients' reliability risks.
28:37 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- The Design for X Approach: 12 Common Examples
- Design for X - Product Design Optimization series (Video playlist)
- ISTA Package Testing: Get It Done Before Shipment To Protect Products
- What To Do If You Have A High Product Return Rate? [6-step Process]
- How To Do Product Reliability Testing?
- Get help from Sofeast to implement and perform reliability and durability testing.
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please:
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
In this episode...
Renaud and Adrian from Sofeast share the positive news that China is reopening its borders to all travellers today, March 15th 2023, including issuing tourist visas now. After 3 long years, we look at changes that might affect business travellers who are eager to visit suppliers in particular.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings - What is the news? (China issuing all types of visas as of March 15 '23)
03:19 - Chinese business visas, and changes to applying for them.
08:30 - The points system used for work visas.
09:52 - Tourist visas are now available!
11:48 - Why the end of Covid has caused the loosening of entry restrictions now.
13:18 - Why PCR tests probably won't be required from travellers moving forward in most cases.
15:54 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- China is fully reopening to tourists after three years of border restrictions (CNN)
- China to fully reopen borders to foreigners but near-term hurdles remain (Reuters)
- China set to open its borders to foreign tourists for the first time since Covid-19 pandemic (SCMP video)
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please:
Friday Mar 10, 2023
Friday Mar 10, 2023
In this episode...
Renaud welcomes Clive Greenwood and Sean Li of the BSI onto the podcast. They talk about the ISO 3730 standard for compliance management, how to implement it, how it is being adopted in China and how this affects you if you work with Chinese suppliers, and more.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing the topic and guests.
03:21 - What is the ISO 37301 standard about?
06:25 - What is a compliance management system and how does it fit in with other common standards such as ISO 9001, 14001, etc?
12:29 - What does a compliance management system in China look like, and is the government taking it seriously?
17:24 - How about traceability, when supply chains in China have been historically opaque? Will businesses struggle to comply?
25:11 - How best to implement ISO 37301 along with other specific standards?
30:16 - Looking at a company’s organization, its checks & balances, its values, etc.
36:00 - Summary: The importance of an independent auditor to supervise the compliance management system.
37:25 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Removing Probability Analysis from Risk Management?
- What is the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation?
- BSI ISO 9001 Certification
- Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Requirements: What Manufacturers need to know
- What Are Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)?
- 11 Common Electronic Product Certification And Compliance Requirements
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please:
Friday Mar 03, 2023
Friday Mar 03, 2023
In this episode...
Renaud, Paul, and Adrian are talking about assembly and checking fixtures. You'll learn what they are, how they work, and when to work on designing them.
If improving the speed, consistency, and quality of your products during mass production is important to you, as well as reducing costs, then you need to consider implementing fixtures in production to spur these improvements.
The same can be said for checking quality, too, as you'll see how in-line checking fixtures help you to avoid problems during production that can result in defective products creeping through.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing the topic: What happens if you have repeated quality issues from your manufacturing supplier?
01:17 - What are assembly fixtures? (+ examples).
11:00 - Benefits of assembly fixtures.
11:37 - Fixtures' role in mistake-proofing.
16:04 - Why good product design must include manufacturing process design.
20:24 - The timeline of when to work on process engineering and fixtures.
22:50 - Are fixtures hard to build and what materials can be used?
23:37 - Who pays for and owns the fixtures?
26:50 - What are checking fixtures (used for QC)?
27:59 - Examples of checking fixtures.
30:52 - How to decide where and how you need to be checking quality during production.
36:20 - The ROI of using fixtures.
38:15 - Why pilot runs are helpful for identifying where fixtures are needed.
39:24 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Exploring The Key New Product Development Deliverables [Podcast]
- What’s The Investment Required To Bring My New Product To Market?
- Why A Pilot Run On A New Product, Before Mass Production, Is Very Helpful
- Understanding The Role Of Manufacturing Process Control In Your Factory
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please:
Friday Feb 24, 2023
Friday Feb 24, 2023
In this episode...
Renaud and Adrian discuss the unwelcome scenario of recurring quality problems from your outsourced supplier who's handling your manufacturing in China. They cover your quality standard, 6 tips on how to handle common recurring quality problems, and several reasons WHY these issues might be happening in the first place.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing the topic: What happens if you have repeated quality issues from your manufacturing supplier?
01:57 - YOU need to make sure that the supplier understands your quality standard first.
03:46 - Tip 1. Always inform the supplier clearly how and why they went wrong.
08:18 - Tip 2. Give feedback on issues as early as possible during production.
10:44 - Tip 3. NEVER accept quality lower than your standard, including making an exception.
14:00 - Tip 4. Clearly define your quality standard including critical, major, minor, and non-defects.
22:01 - Tip 5. Set AQL limits (i.e. tolerances for defects) that correspond to your quality standard.
26:09 - Tip 6. Switch to a newer better supplier.
31:46 - Why product design issues could actually be the cause of your troubles.
33:43 - Why poor manufacturing might be the cause.
37:08 - Why your supplier's suppliers might be the cause.
41:27 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- 4 quality standard levels [Podcast]
- What is the AQL (Acceptance Quality Limit)? An exhaustive guide
- Different inspection levels
- Negotiating with suppliers, including quality standards [Podcast]
- Learn how to switch to a new supplier if you can't accept the problems any longer
- Explore Sofeast's different supplier Audit Solutions and due diligence checks
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please:
Friday Feb 17, 2023
Friday Feb 17, 2023
In this episode...
Adrian from the team and Sofeast's reliability expert, Andrew Amirnovin, talk about ISTA package testing. Importers should consider doing this testing to gain peace of mind that the shipping cartons they select will get their products to their destination safely. You'll learn what the tests include, how much they cost, when to do them, and much more.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing the topic of ISTA package testing.
03:02 - Who is ISTA and what testing standards do they offer?
09:28 - ISTA-1a.
10:34 - ISTA-2a.
15:46 - ISTA-3a.
18:49 - Is ISTA testing mandatory?
19:47 - What does it cost?
22:26 - What does an ISTA test pass actually mean?
24:28 - What if your package fails the test?
26:01 - When should importers start thinking about packaging options?
29:33 - Do the tests require real product samples to be used?
31:19 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- 9 Types of Packaging (Benefits, Costs, Sustainability, and more) - Guide for Importers
- Learn more about ISTA testing in detail from their website.
- What Is A Package Drop Test?
- What Is A Package Vibration Test?
- Carton Compression Test (what it is and its procedure)
- What Is A Packaging Atmospheric Conditioning Test?
- Packaging Damage
- How To Check Humidity In Wood And Cardboard
- Sofeast can help you do ISTA testing, source packaging, and handle your shipping from A-B. Get in touch with us to have a discussion about your needs.
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please:
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
In this episode...
Sofeast's head of Supply Chain Management, Kate, joins Adrian in this short bonus podcast with a logistics focus to explain what HS and HTS codes are, and why they're so important for importers who are shipping their products from where they're manufactured to where they're going to be sold.
These codes are added to your customs declaration and classify what your product is. Different product codes will attract different levels of import duties, taxes, and tariffs, so selecting the right code is critical (and more than one might be appropriate for your product)! Your product classification may also influence the materials, components, and packaging you use, so that's also something to be aware of.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings.
01:11 - What are HS and HTS codes?
02:53 - How to select appropriate codes for your product/s?
03:33 - How the US/China trade war has affected costs for importers from China and why being aware of potential duties for your product is necessary before you ship.
06:319 - An example of where researching a better HTS code saved an American importer a lot of money.
08:59 - Kate's advice on getting the best code for your needs.
Related content...
- HS vs HTS Codes: How to Find the Right Code for your Product? (incl. Links to Official Sources)
- Shipping Marks
- Types of Incoterms
- Where does Sofeast provide logistics support from?
- Sofeast's logistics experts can help you get your products from Asia to where you need them - explore our Logistics Management solution where we take care of the entire process for you, from packing, incoterms, and warehousing, through to fulfillment and managing duties and tariffs upon arrival. Get a tailored quotation for your needs.
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please:
Friday Feb 10, 2023
Friday Feb 10, 2023
In this episode...
Inventors with a new product concept are rightly concerned with IP protection. They sometimes ask if they should invest in a patent for their new idea ASAP. Renaud and Andrew join Adrian to cover this topic here.
You'll learn about types of patents, their cost, when a product is most likely to benefit from being patented, best practices for protecting your IP that you can follow before you file a patent, and plenty of examples of real businesses that had legal issues related to patents or who got to market successfully by being smart and careful about IP.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings & today's topic: Patents for new hardware products.
03:33 - IP protection Basics 1: Always sign an NDA when disclosing the product concept to people in the industry.
04:58 - IP protection Basics 2: These actions will get your product idea copied early.
07:14 - The different types of patents.
10:39 - Approximate costs for patent applications and PPA timeline.
17:24 - If patents are too expensive, what alternatives are there for protecting IP?
22:04 - The 2 main fears of people launching a new product.
33:32 - The dangers of going to investors and pitching your new product idea.
36:37 - What to do if you have a 'home run?'
39:17 - What if your product is not a home run?
41:14 - Which version of the new product really needs a patent?
46:20 - The dilemmas you face: To patent, or not to patent, and when?
50:39 - Summary and wrapping up.
Related content...
- Read a whole selection of our content about Product IP Risks & Protection When Manufacturing [Resources]
- IP Protection in China when Developing Your New Product [Importer’s Guide]
- New Physical Products: Patents Should Come After Market Success
- What’s The Investment Required To Bring My New Product To Market?
- Misguided Legal Advice Given to Startups in China: 8 Examples
- How To Create A Valid Manufacturing Contract In China To Protect Your IP
- Will A China NNN Agreement Protect Us If We Start Assembling Products There?
Get help from Sofeast to check that potential manufacturers are trustworthy: Combined Supplier Due Diligence Checks (Best Results & Value)
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please:
Friday Feb 03, 2023
Friday Feb 03, 2023
In this episode...
Renaud and Adrian talk about the 11 points buyers need to cover when sourcing a contract manufacturer in China for electronic products (although much of this advice is relevant to many hard goods in general and suppliers in other Asian countries, too) so you can find a partner you can rely on.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings & today's topic: Sourcing a CM in China for manufacturing electronic products.
02:10 - What is a contract manufacturer in comparison to other supplier types?
06:55 - 1. What will your order quantity be? (This influences the type of CM that is suitable)
09:43 - 2. Will you order a high-volume, low product mix setup, or the opposite?
12:24 - 3. Do you have visibility and transparency over the supply chain?
19:14 - 4. Will your Intellectual Property be protected, and how?
20:48 - 5. Will they be helping to develop your product and make it compliant?
23:51 - 6. What manufacturing processes does the CM have in-house?
27:45 - 7. What is the CM's QC capability?
28:35 - 8. What kinds of tooling, fixtures, and jigs does the CM have for in-line testing?
29:37 - 9. Who has liability for safety and compliance issues?
31:00 - 10. What payment terms can they accept?
32:01 - 11. What delivery terms do they provide (incoterms)?
34:56 - Summary and wrapping up.
Related content...
- OEM, ODM, Contract Manufacturers: Which Chinese Supplier To Choose?
- Typical Problems with Electronic Contract Manufacturers in China
- 6 best Practices When Working With Contract Manufacturers In China
- 6 Terms You Should Specifically Negotiate With Your Contract Manufacturer
- Using One Turnkey Manufacturer vs. Several Suppliers for China Production
- IP Protection in China when Developing Your New Product [Importer’s Guide]
- How To Create A Valid Manufacturing Contract In China To Protect Your IP
- Will A China NNN Agreement Protect Us If We Start Assembling Products There?
- How To Get Transparency And Control Over Your Supply Chain? [podcast]
- Explore Sofeast's different Factory Audit Solutions
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please:
Friday Jan 27, 2023
Friday Jan 27, 2023
In this episode...
Adrian is joined by one of Sofeast's senior engineers, Paul Adams, who will take us through 7 key tests that importers who are developing new metal and/or plastic products and checking that their quality remains on target after production should consider to check and validate certain critical points in materials, components, and products, such as their hardness, durability, and chemical makeup.
He explains what each test is, the equipment used, the industries and products that use them, and more, so you can decide if they're right for your product.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings.
01:04 - Introducing Paul Adams.
02:56 - Today's topic: The tests most importers should consider performing on their hard goods and why.
Namely:
- Tensile test
- Impact test
- Hardness test
- Flexural test (bend test)
- Chemical analysis
- Fatigue testing
- Creep test
These are NOT in order of importance.
05:44 - Test 1: Tensile test
16:20 - Why importers should have an understanding of test machine types.
17:20 - Test 2: Impact test.
25:46 - Test 3: Hardness test.
34:21 - Test 4: Flexural test (bend test).
42:06 - Test 5: Chemical analysis.
49:46 - Test 6: Fatigue testing.
57:09 - Test 7: Creep test.
1:04:26 - Summary of tests covered & wrapping up.
Related content...
Need help with testing? Sofeast can help you devise and perform appropriate testing such as those outlined here on your materials/parts/product in our own lab: Reliability & Durability Testing (Products & Packaging in a China lab)
- What’s the real Cost of Poor Quality and Reliability? [Podcast]
- What To Do If Your Electronic Product Contains Unreliable Components?
- When and Why a Product Failure Analysis is Required [Podcast]
- How to Reduce Your Product Return Rate? [Podcast]
- Content from Paul about selecting and testing common thermoplastics
- Checking Steel's Properties [Video playlist including many tests]
- Silicone Rubber Properties Testing (Tensile strength, Elongation, & Tear strength) [Video]
- How To Test Silicone Hardness? [Video]
- Plastic Testing [Video playlist including many tests]
- How Reliability Testing Is Critical To Obtaining Great Mass-Produced Products
- CTQ Components: How Component Engineers Manage Their Quality
- List of testing laboratories in China
- Product Reliability Testing | 7 FAQs
Get in touch with us
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
- Send us a tweet @sofeast
- Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
- Contact us via Sofeast's contact page
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Subscribe to the podcast
There are more episodes to come, so remember to subscribe! You can do so in your favorite podcast apps here and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating, please: