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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 Jun 21, 2024
Logistics Special! Rising Shipping Costs + FOB vs FCA Incoterms
Friday Jun 21, 2024
Friday Jun 21, 2024
Adrian is on hosting duty and is joined by Sofeast's Head of Supply Chain Management, Kate. Rising shipping costs (sea, air, and otherwise) are an issue facing importers from Asia now in 2024, but what's causing it and are there any tips to help you cope? Also, in a second topic, Kate dispels the confusion about FOB vs FCA, explaining why the more common incoterm (at least when buying from Chinese manufacturers) isn't necessarily the best for you!
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction.
01:23 - Shipping costs from China are spiking. How much are they now?
06:49 - What is causing the surging prices?
16:16 - What's the effect on shipping to Europe?
18:56 - FOB vs FCA Incoterms.
29:35 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- The Red Sea attacks on shipping are still happening
- Brazil has increased the tariff on imported Chinese EVs
- Check the various supply chain management services we can help you with, including logistics
- Types of Incoterms [Guide]
- What do the USA’s May ’24 China tariffs mean for importers? [Podcast]
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 Jun 14, 2024
Elon Musk's New Product Introduction Philosophy: What Can We Learn?
Friday Jun 14, 2024
Friday Jun 14, 2024
Adrian and Renaud get together to talk about Elon Musk's insights and philosophy into developing and bringing new products to market (from an interview by 'Everyday Astronaut' on YouTube at his launch facility a few years back). He shares his philosophies on new product introductions which cover some common sense topics that manufacturers of almost any product should bear in mind.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction to Musk.
07:20 - What can we learn from Musk?
11:08 - The Musk NPI philosophy.
16:08 - 1. Make Your Requirements Less Dumb.
20:44 - 2. Delete Parts or Processes, and Simplify/Optimize.
29:05 - 3. Accelerate cycle times.
32:46 - 4. Automate.
36:30 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- The NPI process (Including graphic)
- Why does new product development take so long?
- 7 Key NPI Tasks To Do Before You Take Your Product Into Production [Podcast]
- Sofeast NPI process explainer video
- Elon Musk Biography: DFM Learnings and more!
- Get help from Sofeast's product engineering team to bring your product to market: New Product Introduction in China Solution
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
Friday Jun 07, 2024
Exploring Apple's iPhone Reliability & Durability Testing
Friday Jun 07, 2024
Friday Jun 07, 2024
Renaud hosts and is joined by Andrew Amirnovin, Sofeast's product reliability head, and they're looking at how Apple tests iPhone reliability and durability. Recently Marques Brownlee shared some videos from within Apple's testing lab and interviews with their head of hardware engineering and the insights were interesting. It turns out that Andrew has also visited Apple's lab and he shares his own insights about that, and the pair discuss what you can learn from the way Apple do things.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction.
01:08 - The advent of the iPhone in 2006 and the testing it required.
08:48 - Worries about reliability: What did Andrew learn at Apple's testing lab back then?
13:40 - What can we learn from the tests in Brownlee's recent videos (June 24) from Apple's labs?
22:00 - What kind of drop test were they doing?
26:07 - What are the different drop surfaces used for?
29:10 - Apple's hardware engineering head wants to make a product that 'never fails.' Realistic?
31:49 - Is repairability better than durability?
36:21 - Wrapping up and closing questions.
Related content...
- Marques Brownlee posts on X about visiting the Apple labs (Thread)
- JOHN DEERE AND NEBRASKA’S RIGHT TO REPAIR, THE AFTERMATH OF A FAILED PIECE OF LEGISLATION
- Right To Repair: Blessing or Curse for Manufacturers?
- Robust Design: Enhancing Product Quality and Performance
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
Friday May 31, 2024
When to do Design Reviews on Innovative Hardware Products?
Friday May 31, 2024
Friday May 31, 2024
Adrian hosts and Renaud goes deep into design reviews which can really save your skin by identifying and fixing problems that can lead to defects and failures. What kinds of product design reviews can be done to reduce problems, and when during the product design and development process should they be done?
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction.
02:25 - Why design reviews are important.
12:02 - The different types of reviews and when they're done: Phase 1. Early stages
17:18 - Phase 2. Proof-of-concept and feasibility study.
22:22 - Phase 3. Design FMEA when the design starts to take shape.
28:47 - When to do Design for Reliability / Manufacturing reviews?
34:08 - Process FMEA just before the design is locked and tooling is made.
37:22 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- The Benefits of a Feasibility Study (during new product development)
- dFMEA: When to use it and how to get best results [Podcast]
- The Design for X Approach: 12 Common Examples
- Process FMEA: Template, Use Cases, and Examples
- FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis)
- Get help from Sofeast: On-Site Process FMEA + Process Control Plan Workshops
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 May 24, 2024
Friday May 24, 2024
Renaud hosts and is joined by Fredrik Gronkvist, founder of Productmkr.com, to discuss near-sourcing from Europe + Turkey (and Mexico for North American buyers) VS buying from China. Fredrik has done a lot of research on how to source from China alternatives and he now offers a supplier database for subscribers to help make finding the right option easier. Here he shares his advice on near-sourcing and how it differs from the traditional approach of buying from China.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction.
04:14 - What are the key challenges importers face when near sourcing?
08:14 - How to improve your chances of receiving a response from non-Chinese suppliers?
11:04 - What is the impact of near sourcing on MOQs and lead times?
17:03 - Does near sourcing reduce quality and compliance risks?
22:40 - Does it make sense for all types of products?
27:23 - Is the process of identifying and screening potential suppliers in Europe/Turkey the same as in China or Vietnam?
32:19 - How should buyers approach sourcing from nearby countries? (Summary)
33:24 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Read Productmkr.com's analysis: Manufacturing in Europe vs China: A Comparison
- Nearshoring To Mexico. An Alternative To China?
- India Gaining Popularity over China as a Near-Shoring and Sourcing Destination
- Globalism 2.0: North American Importers To Move Supply Chains Out Of China Soon?
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 May 17, 2024
What do the USA's May '24 China tariffs mean for importers?
Friday May 17, 2024
Friday May 17, 2024
Adrian and Renaud are back to examine the recent May 14th news of new China tariffs being implemented by the Biden administration with the overall aim of reducing trade with China whom many in America see as flooding the market with cheap exports that damage American businesses who can't compete. EVs, solar panels, medical devices, steel and aluminum, and more are in the firing line. So, how does this affect US importers and the relationship between the two giants? Let's find out...
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction
03:26 - When did China tariffs start being used?
09:46 - Why add more tariffs now?
16:20 - What does China have to say in response to this?
20:45 - Which products and materials have been given these tariffs?
29:51 - The USA's target areas for improvement.
33:06 - Will Chinese companies find other customers instead?
36:36 - If you're an American buyer likely to be affected by these tariffs, what can you do?
39:51 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to Take Further Action on China Tariffs After Releasing Statutory Four-Year Review
- He Helped Trump Remake Global Trade. His Work Isn’t Done.
- Has the US declared economic war on China?
- ”Enterprise China” – China’s Strategy for Economic Success (Author Interview with Drs. Allen J. Morrison & J. Stewart Black)
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 May 10, 2024
IP Protection when buying from China (Feat. Dan Harris, China Law Blog)
Friday May 10, 2024
Friday May 10, 2024
Renaud welcomes Dan Harris, Partner of the Seattle-headquartered and globally officed Harris Sliwoski LLP and long-time writer of the China Law Blog, to the podcast! Over the years he has shared so much valuable information for importers who buy from and manufacture in China; a key topic being keeping IP safe when purchasing from Chinese suppliers.
So in this episode, we delve into Dan's decades of assisting Western companies navigate doing business with Chinese suppliers and get his tips on common IP risks and steps you can take to protect your business.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction
03:27 - What are the major risks to IP concerning working with Chinese companies that Western businesses should look out for?
07:58 - Western companies consistently underestimate the risks of their technology and IP being used against them.
13:39 - Has the Chinese legal system evolved for the better (or worse) regarding IP protection?
20:11 - Protection 1: The right partner.
28:11 - Protection 2: The right contract.
30:21 - Protection 3. The right protections.
38:26 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
Great reads from China Law Blog:
- China NNN Agreements: The Ten Most Asked Questions Answered
- China Trademark Protection: Is Your Chinese Manufacturer a Friend or a Foe?
- How to Avoid China Manufacturing Problems: A Primer
- China Due Diligence: NOT Optional
You should also check out these resources from Sofeast:
- Sofeast's FREE guide: IP Protection in China when Developing Your New Product [Importer’s Guide]
- Video presentation: Legal Agreements & Tools Used By Manufacturers For Protecting Product IP
- Sofeast 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 May 03, 2024
Exploring Plastic Injection Molding Pilot Runs
Friday May 03, 2024
Friday May 03, 2024
Renaud hosts and is joined by Sofeast Group senior engineer, Paul Adams, to discuss how to go from a design to mass-producing your plastic injection molded parts, first following the proven pre-production pilot run approach to ensure risks are kept to a minimum. You'll learn what should be optimized and what should not be skipped, even if sometimes getting to market sooner seems tempting.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction
01:49 - Why is an injection molding pilot run important?
05:05 - What are the steps involved?
09:53 - Why 'metal safe' is your goal after the trials.
12:39 - The supplier still needs to optimize the tooling
25:01 - Optimizing the injection mold press (machine).
34:55 - Keeping records of parameter settings helps to control the process.
39:04 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- The Plastic Injection Molding Process: Top Questions and Answers
- Plastic injection molding explainer videos
- Injection Mold Textures: How to Choose the Right One?
- Mold Tech Texture Book
- Get help from our subsidiary to make your plastic parts in South China
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 Apr 26, 2024
The Rise Of The Dragon: Exploring China’s Technology Dominance
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Today Adrian and Andrew Amirnovin, our reliability and testing head, look at some of China's recent technology successes, what fuels China's tech dominance, and how technology is caught up in the middle of the US-China trade war.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction.
06:18 - What is fuelling China's tech dominance?
12:40 - The success story of Huawei.
20:32 - Other Chinese tech success stories.
23:30 - Is Chinese technology a privacy risk for users?
26:22 - How does the US-China relationship affect technology?
33:43 - New technologies coming out of China to be aware of.
36:10 - More semiconductor manufacturing to happen in the USA?
37:16 - Wrapping up and closing questions.
Related content...
- Tech Please rewind: China's top tech feats of 2023
- Baidu
- DJI Drones
- U.S. bans new Huawei, ZTE equipment sales, citing national security risk
- Surprise! China's top Android phones collect way more info
- Huawei 5G kit must be removed from UK by 2027
- Huawei
- The first phone maker to add satellite texting to its devices is... Huawei
- The US is headed for a much more aggressive trade war with China regardless of who is president next year, economist says
- America's billion-dollar bet on US chipmaking
- Guide to China's e-commerce websites
- This chart shows which countries produce the most lithium
- China's AI Analog Chip Claimed To Be 3.7X Faster Than Nvidia's A100 GPU in Computer Vision Tasks (Updated)
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
Friday Apr 19, 2024
10 Common Problems From Chinese Suppliers (& How You Can Deal With Them)
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Adrian and Renaud get together to talk about 10 common problems that companies with Chinese manufacturing suppliers often face, AND how you can deal with them. Hopefully, you are not one of the unlucky ones, but being prepared with the knowledge to avoid issues is always helpful!
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction
03:22 - 1. If your supplier refuses to ship the goods you paid for.
09:40 - 2. Your manufacturer tries to force you to accept poor quality that you’re uncomfortable with.
16:00 - 3. If the supplier has failed to prepare export packaging of your products for your scheduled quality inspection.
21:41 - 4. When your supplier has disappeared with your tooling and/or inventory.
25:33 - 5. Your supplier won’t provide important supply chain information.
29:30 - 6. You catch your supplier selling your products as their own!
34:59 - 7. Your ‘factory’ turns out to be a trading company.
39:00 - 8. Coping with an unexpected price increase from suppliers.
41:50 - 9. Your current supplier blocks the transfer of your mold tooling to a new supplier.
46:09 - 10. Worries about keeping sensitive product information secure.
48:26 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- We cover these cases: 10 Common Disputes With Chinese Suppliers And How To Overcome Them!
- Sourcing Chinese Suppliers? 7 Expert Tips To Get You Better Results!
- IP Protection in China when Developing Your New Product [Importer’s Guide]
- Will A China NNN Agreement Protect Us If We Start Assembling Products There?
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: