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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 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
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
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
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
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
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:
Friday Apr 12, 2024
Friday Apr 12, 2024
Adrian and Renaud discuss Quality Fade. This bad practice from suppliers sees them put their profits before your product quality, but the big problem is that you may not even know it is happening as it's a gradual process where quality declines over time, bit by bit.
Are you at risk, how do you identify it, and what can you do to combat it? We reveal all in this episode!
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction
02:27 - What is Quality Fade?
09:25 - Is it still happening today?
12:15 - Actions to help you avoid quality fade.
18:30 - If you are a victim of quality fade, how can you catch it?
23:44 - Examples of products affected by quality fade.
28:51 - Ongoing reliability testing: Warn the supplier, or do it secretly?
35:28 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- ‘Quality Fade’: China’s Great Business Challenge
- Mattel Recalls 19 Million Toys Sent From China
- Learn how to source the right supplier from China in these podcast episodes: DIY Sourcing from China Series
- 5 levels of quality standards from best to worst practices
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 05, 2024
Friday Apr 05, 2024
On this episode of the China Manufacturing Decoded Podcast, Adrian hosts and is joined by Andrew, our reliability and testing head who is going to explain why the PCBA in your electronic product is critical, and how to protect it both physically and through product design.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction.
01:45 - What is the PCB and why is it so important?
03:04 - How and why do we protect the PCB?
04:40 - Conformal coating.
08:51 - Other PCB protection options.
14:14 - The process of protecting a product from the inside out.
18:42 - The costs of protecting PCBs.
23:44 - The coating process.
25:05 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- PCB Prototyping Methods: 5 Favorites
- DFM for PCBA – 40+ Improvements
- Get help from us! We can make your PCBA in China
- CM + PCBA Factory vs. EMS Supplier in Shenzhen, China
- Electronics Videos: Basics about PCB, PCBA, and the SMT Process For Importers
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 Mar 29, 2024
Friday Mar 29, 2024
Adrian and Renaud are talking about traceability for manufacturers which provides a detailed record of how the products are manufactured and the supply chain, from raw materials to finished products. Having this mindset and system can help you to reduce risks and deal with problems quickly by pinpointing where they arise. It can also help you be a more compliant business. Plenty of benefits, but it takes a cultural shift to put in place, so Renaud will explain how.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction
03:53 - Traceability takes a conscious effort to put in place.
06:07 - Introducing traceability and the difference between batch level and unit level.
12:06 - Benefits.
24:01 - Is it expensive to run a traceability initiative?
25:35 - How does traceability relate to product passports in the EU?
27:44 - How to implement it?
35:41 - How to audit a supplier's traceability system?
40:47 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Get help to audit your supplier's traceability system from Sofeast
- Traceability in Manufacturing: Do your Chinese Suppliers Do it Right?
- Checking for Forward and Backward Traceability in a Factory
- What To Do If You Have A High Product Return Rate? [6-step Process]
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: