China Manufacturing Decoded
 

China Manufacturing Decoded

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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

Boeing's Serious Issue: Bad Manufacturing Habits

Friday Mar 22, 2024

Friday Mar 22, 2024

Air travel requires an extremely high level of safety, so it's very embarrassing for Boeing that they have been dogged by quality and reliability issues lately, resulting in a near-disaster on a brand new Alaska Airlines 737 Max.

Renaud and Paul look at Boeing's recent troubles, based on information from news reports, that seem to have been caused by bad manufacturing habits such as accepting sub-standard parts from suppliers without pushing them to improve, not fixing issues in-process and 'leaving them for later,' an over-reliance on inspections and rework when planes were complete, and a business culture which placed financial results above quality.

They also explain the best practices that good manufacturers follow to reduce risks as your key takeaway from the episode.

 

Show Sections

00:00 - Greetings and introduction - where is Boeing going wrong?

06:15 - What do good factories do to avoid problems like travelled work?

10:08 - Investing time for training suppliers in the upstream supply chain to reduce quality risks

18:24 - What can we learn about dealing with in-process issues from the automotive industry?

27:14 - Why a focus on inspection and rework later increases risks.

33:32 - Summary: Good manufacturers' best practices.

37:46 - Wrapping up.

 

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Manufacturer's & Buyer's Risks in China: Mitigation and Insurance Tips

Friday Mar 15, 2024

Friday Mar 15, 2024

Our CEO Renaud is joined by Marc Burban and Amanda Han, insurance brokers from Asian Risks Management Services. We get advice from these two China insurance experts, explore the typical risks that manufacturers and buyers in China face, and learn how you can use insurance and risk management to mitigate them. For anyone manufacturing in China, this information will help you understand your best options moving forward and how an insurance broker can assist you in making the right choices.

 

Show Sections

00:00 - Greetings and introduction.

01:54 - What are the major risks that companies who are manufacturing or buyers having products manufactured in China need to keep in mind?

06:04 - How can these risks be mitigated?

10:02 - How does insurance work?

15:07 - Why national safety regulatory compliance is not necessarily enough to save a business when the worst happens?

20:30 -  What kind of insurance policies are available in China for manufacturers and buyers?

25:12 - Changing EU liability laws will mean product liability insurance will be even more important in Europe.

26:34 - Why work with an insurance broker instead of going direct?

31:35 - Amanda introduces Asian Risks Management Services & wrapping up.

 

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Chinese e-Bike/Scooter Battery Fire Risks Are No Joke! (Feat.Clive Greenwood)

Friday Mar 08, 2024

Friday Mar 08, 2024

Renaud is joined by regular guest, Clive Greenwood, an international product compliance expert based in China. They talk about the growing risks of Li-ion batteries used in Chinese e-bikes and scooters amid many high-profile fires in China, deaths in the West, and grave warnings from the FDNY. Clive also makes suggestions about how legislation can change to improve safety moving forward.

As these personal vehicles become more popular and importers around the world source them from China, it pays to understand the risks...spoiler alert, they're no joke!

 

Show Sections

00:00 - Greetings and introduction.

03:57 - Looking at the risks of Li-ion batteries used in micro-mobility in China.

09:21 - What is the Chinese government doing to combat the dangers of batteries?

17:53 - What if you're buying e-bikes and scooters, or batteries for them, from China now?

21:22 - Does China need new battery regulations to make them safer, or to just enforce the current ones?

25:42 -  Safety tips for battery buyers.

28:46 - E-bikes and scooters are a new source of risk people need to adapt to.

33:01 - Wrapping up.

 

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Apple Vision Pro Cracking Up! Reliability Problems, So Soon? (BONUS)

Tuesday Mar 05, 2024

Tuesday Mar 05, 2024

In this bonus episode, our host and CEO Renaud is joined by our product reliability and durability expert, Andrew Amirnovin, to talk about the bad news for Apple that their much-hyped Vision Pro headset is cracking just weeks after being released to the public. They explore the durability problems rearing their heads only a month or so into the product's general release in early February 2024, based on information found in online news articles and videos.

 

Show Sections

00:00 - Introduction, what is the Vision Pro?

Apple's Vision Pro headset is an incredibly well-received augmented reality headset that earned rave reviews worldwide. It took more than 10 years to develop and is one of the most groundbreaking Apple products released in recent years.

02:29 - Uh-oh, cracks to the headset!

The external plastic layer, like a visor, is cracking in a straight line from the nose to the forehead on some models even though the customer didn't do anything like drop them. We don't know the percentage, so it's hard to ascertain what pattern there is, but these unsightly defects are not welcome in a device that costs over $3000+.

04:04 - How would an engineer start diagnosing this case?

Environmental or transportation conditions may cause a defect like this or it could even be the packaging placing some kind of stress on the wrong part of the visor that eventually results in the crack developing. It is fair to say that the plastic seems fragile.

Apple should accept field returns from customers and do a root cause analysis to identify the defect and its cause and then implement a corrective action plan.

06:40 - Is the return or repair policy straightforward? What should Apple customers do if they're affected?

Apple may need to clarify its returns or repair policy, as some customers have reported receiving different responses from Apple with some stores offering to repair or replace, and some refusing to take responsibility. With visor repairs costing $800, it seems sensible to at least invest in an AppleCare extended warranty for the device to reduce potential repair costs.

08:48 - Is it likely Apple's engineers missed this issue and never saw it during product testing and development?

It's hard to say, but was the visor that cracks added after most development and testing was done maybe for some reason? If so it may not have been tested (as much). If Apple doesn't fix this, and fast, it could damage their brand as this is such a high-profile release. The situation is similar to the problems they had with the Macbook 'Butterfly' keyboards in 2015/2016 which they replaced by returning to a scissor mechanism they then named the 'Magic' keyboard, although in those cases Apple replaced the defective keyboard (and sometimes added a new battery) for free.

11:29 - We all know that an iPhone is likely to suffer damage when dropped from 6ft, should we be surprised that the Vision Pro seems similarly fragile?

The Vision Pro does not seem very durable, the same as the iPhone. The majority of users put their iPhones in a protective case for exactly this reason.

An acceptable drop height for a mobile phone to withstand damage is about 1M, not 6ft. However the Vision Pro is meant to be worn on the face and is very front-heavy, so if it slips, it will likely fall from around 6ft. There is no protective case for the Vision Pro when it is in use unlike for phones, therefore, should it be durable enough to survive such a drop, especially for its price?

13:27 - Wrapping up.

 

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Plastic & Metal Development Prototypes: Uses & Limitations

Friday Mar 01, 2024

Friday Mar 01, 2024

Adrian hosts and is joined by Sofeast Group senior engineer, Paul Adams, and they talk about the uses and limitations of the metal and plastic 'development prototypes,' that is to say, product prototypes made during the development process and before mass production. Remember, these are not production-standard prototypes, but that doesn't mean that they aren't important as you will find out...it's all about controlling expectations.

 

Show Sections

00:00 - Greetings and introduction

02:06 - Why are we producing prototypes to start with?

04:09 - Plastic prototyping processes.

07:02 - 3D-Printed plastic development prototype limitations.

12:10 - The trade-off between quality and cost when it comes to prototypes.

15:34 - Metal prototyping processes.

18:18 - Metal development prototype limitations.

22:48 - Key limitations of development prototypes.

29:35 - Considerations for you regarding prototypes.

32:56 - Wrapping up.

 

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Handing Over To Manufacturing: Best Practices

Friday Feb 23, 2024

Friday Feb 23, 2024

Adrian and Renaud discuss how to plan for the handover of your innovative new product to manufacturing (with a focus on hard goods with mechanical elements and some electronic/electrical parts). Product handover should be a structured process of actions taken mainly before the manufacturer gets involved to ensure a smooth transition from you to them so the product ends up being made to your specifications and requirements and the risks of issues before product launch are minimized.

You'll learn:

  • What a product handover is.
  • The drawbacks of not following a structured process and how not to hand over.
  • What the best practices for handover are so you can follow them to streamline your next project.

 

Show Sections

00:00 - Greetings and introduction

00:50 - Who needs to hand over their product to a manufacturer and why?

04:22 - The WRONG way to hand over to the manufacturer.

09:57 - Questions about the product that need to be answered.

12:55 - Who will do the DFM?

15:32 - What can happen if you just throw designs over the wall to a manufacturer without doing a DFM review?

18:15 - Handover best practices.

35:14 - When is the handover complete?

37:59 - Wrapping up.

 

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Technology & Innovation in Freight Forwarding (Feat. Amit Rosenthal, CEO of Proboxx)

Friday Feb 16, 2024

Friday Feb 16, 2024

Renaud hosts today and welcomes guest speaker Amit Rosenthal, CEO of Proboxx, to the show and this episode's focus is on moving your products from Asia to where they need to be via freight forwarding. They discuss how the latest technological advancements in freight forwarding are streamlining operations, improving tracking and transparency, and offering more reliable and efficient services for Amazon sellers.

Since many people manufacturing overseas end up selling on Amazon, at least as part of their mix, being up to speed on moving your products is useful, so hit that play button!

 

Show Sections

00:00 - Greetings and introduction of Amit and his freight forwarding business, Proboxx.

06:03 - How and why freight forwarding needed to go from old-fashioned to cutting edge.

13:20 - Why not knowing their shipment's arrival date at the distribution facility can make life difficult for sellers.

19:21 - How do Amazon sellers plan their sales?

22:31 - Are GPS trackers for the products in a container helpful?

26:33 - Many small freight forwarders set up in China since around 2020 are going bust, how does this affect overseas customers?

32:05 - Wrapping up.

 

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What's A Good QA Auditing & Inspection Program For New Products?

Friday Feb 09, 2024

Friday Feb 09, 2024

Adrian and Renaud go through what makes a good QA auditing and inspection program for innovative new electro-mechanical products that will reduce risks of poor quality, reliability, and compliance, and detect the issues in time for them to be worked on before anything is shipped. Unless you are producing simple products or working with a supplier who is very experienced in manufacturing the exact product type you're developing, you will very likely require some form of QA program like this.

It's split into 5 points: 1-3 cover the preparation of the product and process design, then 4-5 are after the product starts mass production. Listen and explore what needs to happen to power up your product quality!

 

Show Sections

00:00 - Greetings and introduction

01:37 - Why do you need a QA auditing and inspection program?

06:53 - #1. A DFM review of some components (especially custom-designed).

10:50 - #2. A quality system audit of suppliers’ factories.

18:00 - Are market surveillance authorities scrutinising product compliance more than before?

21:13 - #3. Production line preparation audit at the assembly factory.

28:46 - #4. A product inspection during the pilot run(s).

33:12 - #5. Final product inspections during and after production.

41:09 - Wrapping up.

 

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Why NOT doing ESD testing on new electronic products is scary!

Friday Feb 02, 2024

Friday Feb 02, 2024

On this episode of the China Manufacturing Decoded Podcast, Adrian hosts and is joined by Andrew, our reliability and compliance expert, from the Sofeast Group for a deep dive into electrostatic discharge (ESD) – a critical factor in electronics production with the potential for significant impact on product success and customer satisfaction. They stress the importance of ESD testing for bulk-manufactured electronics and discuss the potential consequences of failing to consider ESD in manufacturing, such as financial loss and product recalls.

Beyond providing an overview of ESD's significance, this conversation also introduces listeners to three methodologies used for its testing: The Human Body Model (HBM), the Machine Model (MM), and the Charged Device Model (CDM). Andrew elucidates these models, their unique benefits, and their most appropriate application industries as part of a comprehensive ESD discussion.

The need for ESD-resistant design, sound manufacturing environments, and ESD-protective packaging are a few of the critical preventative measures emphasized. Additionally, the roles of regular auditing and assessments for maintaining compliance and enhancing manufacturing methods are also underscored. The episode culminates with specific ESD requirements and testing protocols per product, concluding with insights on how a comprehensive ESD prevention approach can help avoid product returns and financial disparities.

This episode equips listeners with the knowledge needed for safeguarding their electronic products against ESD, enlightening them about its potential damage, and details preventive measures for ESD in the manufacturing process.

 

Show Sections

00:00 - Greetings and introduction.

02:24 - What is ESD?

06:59 - 3 ESD test models.

13:41 - Common tests and voltages.

18:53 - The harm or damage that can be caused by ESD.

25:42 - How to prevent the effects of ESD?

35:53 - Product design to prevent ESD.

38:34 - Wrapping up.

 

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Impact of Yemen's Houthis On Global Shipping in Jan '24 (BONUS)

Monday Jan 29, 2024

Monday Jan 29, 2024

Welcome to our special 200th episode of China Manufacturing Decoded, a podcast by Sofeast Group, where we discuss global manufacturing topics to help you decode and navigate the supply chain world.

In this episode, we discuss the impact of the Houthi Yemeni rebels' attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, and how it may affect your shipping costs and other issues you might face. We're joined by our very own Kate Oliynykova, Head of Supply Chain Management at Sofeast Group, who shares her insights on the current political events and their potential ripple effects on importers. Listen in as we unravel the complexity of this issue.

The Red Sea route accounts for 12% of global trade, including 30% of the container traffic passing through the Suez Canal. Any disruption in this route affects not only oil and gas prices but also the availability and cost of a broad range of goods. The current attacks have caused a direct increase in ship insurance costs, prompting bigger shipping companies to opt for alternative routes around the Cape of Good Hope. This, in turn, not only escalates transportation costs but also significantly extends delivery times.

In this scenario, we advise importers to diversify their supply chain, considering options like rail or truck deliveries, or partial shipments with air freight.

What are the repercussions if the situation is prolonged? How can importers better prepare for these unforeseen circumstances? Tune in to this episode of China Manufacturing Decoded as we discuss the critical aspects of this multinational issue. Remember, the Sofeast Group offers an in-house logistics department to help formulate a tailored solution that meets your needs most cost-effectively, given the present situation.

 

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