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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 Dec 22, 2023
Friday Dec 22, 2023
Adrian and Renaud return for the last podcast of 2023, a bumper episode where they go through 13 quality strategies you can adopt to achieve consistent product quality.
They're roughly split into pre-production and post-production strategies, so settle down and dive in here!
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction.
Pre-production
02:18 - 1. Due diligence and factory audits to ensure the supplier has the capabilities to reach your quality standards.
04:31 - 2. Define a quality standard.
08:35 - 3. Product design with quality in mind (DfX principles).
12:44 - 4. Feasibility study.
17:04 - 5. Specify all aspects of the product to avoid grey areas.
23:11 - 6. Implement a QA plan.
26:04 - 7. Use a manufacturer with a quality management system.
30:32 - 8. Quality (and compliance) testing.
During and Post-production
33:32 - 9. Do IQC.
37:08 - 10. Conduct product inspections.
41:45 - 11. Process Controls.
45:13 - 12. Mistake-Proofing.
47:48 - 13. Traceability in the supply chain.
51:01 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- How a Supplier’s Quality can be Evaluated and Validated
- Background checks on suppliers
- Documenting Your Company’s Quality Standard into the Details
- What Is A Quality Assurance Plan?
- The Design for X Approach: 12 Common Examples
- Why Skipping Incoming QC Is a Source of High Risks & Costs
- The Benefits of a Feasibility Study (during new product development)
- How To Do Product Reliability Testing?
- Various product inspection solutions we provide you with
- Process Control Plan
- Traceability in Manufacturing: Do your Chinese Suppliers Do it Right?
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 Dec 15, 2023
Friday Dec 15, 2023
Adrian hosts and Paul Adams, one of Sofeast's senior engineers joins him to talk about how to add surface textures to plastic injection mold tooling and get the finish that we want on our plastic molded parts.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction to textures for plastic injection molded parts.
02:55 - General points about getting started adding textures.
07:59 - Draft Angle rules of thumb for mold design with textures in mind.
14:58 - 5 Common methods used to add surface textures to the mold tooling itself.
27:46 - Key benefits of Chemical Photoetching.
30:30 - Roughness: Ra Value and Mold Tool Textures
34:27 - Using mold texture books to help specify your texture/s
37:29 - Some examples of typical textures from the Yick Sang texture book.
43:20 - Summary and wrap-up.
Related content...
- Plastic Injection Mold Tooling Management & Risk Reduction [Podcast]
- What is a Mold Tech Texture Book?
- Should Tooling Fabrication and Plastic Injection Molding Be Done Together?
- Plastic Injection Molds: 8 Tips For When Requesting Quotes
- Product Tooling: Possible To Avoid Paying for it in Full?
- Using Prototype Injection Molds for the First Production: Realistic?
- All about Plastic Injection Molding and Thermoplastics [Videos]
- Avoiding 9 Plastic Injection Molding Defects: Key Preventive Measures
Get help from Sofeast with your tooling fabrication and management with these services:
- Plastic Injection Mold Tooling Management Program
- Mold Capability Validation Supervision (for Plastic Injection Molds in China)
- Tooling Custody & Management (for Plastic Injection Molds in 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 Dec 08, 2023
Friday Dec 08, 2023
Adrian and Renaud chat about whether hiring a sourcing agent is necessary for businesses that want to purchase products from China. They also discuss the different options, such as doing the sourcing work yourself, and their pros and cons.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and news: CNY '24 prep and visa-free China entry for 6 countries.
08:06 - Who typically uses a sourcing agent to buy from China and what types are there?
13:10 - 4 sourcing approaches the buyer can take.
14:02 - When does each approach make sense (and pros & cons)?
41:25 - Sourcing options and compliance.
43:43 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Sourcing from China 101, Part 1: Do You Need a Sourcing Agent?
- Why First-Time Buyers Fall for Trading Companies in 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 Dec 01, 2023
Friday Dec 01, 2023
Adrian hosts and Renaud is onboard to offer some cautionary advice about working with 'the cheapest Chinese supplier' with a focus on relatively ordinary consumer and electronic products. What might sound like a good deal could actually land you in hot water. Here's why...
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction: Should we be wary of choosing the cheapest supplier?
05:35 - Warning signs from cheap suppliers.
09:54 - Do lowest prices = a stable relationship for the mid to long-term?
15:18 - Does a manufacturing contract protect you from the supplier making changes due to not being able to afford to honor low prices?
17:55 - What type of factory are you even dealing with?
24:36 - An example quote for very low-cost plastic injection mold tooling and the problems you might face in future if you accept.
27:23 - Avoiding the cheapest options and doing due diligence is a must for certain product types.
29:21 - What can go wrong when you work with a cheap/bad supplier?
33:47 - Is it really impossible to get a small factory to do a good job?
39:18 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- The four levels of Chinese factories
- Learn how to source from China: DIY Sourcing from China Podcast Series
- Free eBook: How To Find A Manufacturer In China: 10 Verification Steps
- Hands-on buyers: qualifying factories and nurturing them
- Hands-off buyers: accepting the risks of importing
- Get help from Sofeast to do your due diligence on potential suppliers: Background Checks on Suppliers
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 Nov 24, 2023
Friday Nov 24, 2023
In this episode...
Renaud hosts this episode on the EU's forthcoming directive on product liability which should get you nervous if you sell into Europe. Clive Greenwood and Prof. Simon Choi are two highly experienced compliance experts and Professor Choi brings a fresh outlook on how this affects manufacturers in China and EU importers in legal terms.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing today's topic.
04:23 - What is the intent of the directive?
06:53 - What does this directive change for economic operators on the distribution and retail side of things?
12:47 - Transparency in the supply chain.
16:56 - Even if a factory in, say, China can now be held liable for product problems as a supply chain actor under this new legislation, realistically, can an importer obtain compensation from them?
24:47 - How the burden of proof for manufacturers is changing.
28:45 - Product labelling must make it easier for any parties, especially consumers, to bring a case against a product's seller.
32:50 - Foreign manufacturers are going to be under a lot of pressure to change the way they do things.
34:02 - Why the product safety's burden of proof is on the party who brings the product into the EU.
37:17 - Will this directive even be possible to enforce in manufacturing in China?
39:38 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- How ISO 37301 Might Improve Chinese Suppliers’ Compliance
- Exploring 9 Quality Management Challenges in China [Podcast]
- The EU Ecodesign Regulation Is Coming, But Are You Prepared? [Podcast part1]
- Exploring Product Safety & Reliability Issue Liability [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 Nov 17, 2023
Friday Nov 17, 2023
In this episode...
Renaud and Andrew, Sofeast's head of New Product Development, are in the booth discussing how a supplier's quality can be evaluated and validated. In order to avoid purchasing parts or materials that will let you down, you need to be able to assess if a supplier is capable of reaching your requirements, and they're going to tell you how!
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing today's topic.
01:31 - Why is supplier quality important?
05:56 - When should you start being concerned with supplier's quality and what should you do to mitigate risks of poor quality?
15:33 - Why the quality team must help to include your quality standards in the PRD (product requirement document).
22:05 - Why small businesses may benefit from working with a supplier who has in-house engineering resources.
23:32 - Doing due diligence to qualify that a supplier's quality is good.
33:16 - Checking the supplier's QMS.
35:07 - Regular audits can also uncover helpful information about suppliers.
37:35 - Formalize approved suppliers.
41:43 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Sourcing New Suppliers From China: 7 Tips For Success.
- Free Download: Ultimate Guide To Sourcing From China And Developing Your Suppliers [eBook]
- Click here to listen 👉 DIY Sourcing from China Series
- Get help from Sofeast to source new suppliers for you and do due diligence on them
- Select numerous helpful factory audits from Sofeast
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 Nov 10, 2023
Friday Nov 10, 2023
In this episode...
Adrian hosts and welcomes Kate Oliynykova, Sofeast's head of supply chain management, onto the podcast once again. This time she sheds light on how we do supplier identification for customers, sharing 7 tips for key areas to focus on and lots of advice that can help you get better results when you're sourcing from China (or other countries in Asia, too, actually).
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing today's topic.
04:12 - 1) How to find a good supplier in China: Platforms to use
10:02 - 2) Key points to pay attention to when selecting a supplier
12:39 - 3) Checking certifications
17:44 - 4) Collect supplier contact info. and cross-check
21:47 - 5) Getting better quotations.
27:59 - 6) Selecting the right incoterms.
32:45 - 7) Source yourself or use a third party?
35:41 - An example of what can go wrong if you've sourced suppliers yourself.
41:36 - Sofeast's tried-and-tested sourcing approach.
44:27 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Are Suppliers We Find On Alibaba.com And GlobalSources.com Trustworthy?
- Chinese trading companies and their dirty little secrets
- Work with Sofeast as we assist you with New Supplier / Factory Identification using our experienced teams around Asia to help you avoid risks and provide suppliers you can rely on
- Sofeast supplier background check - it's great value and might just save your bacon!
- Our guide into the key Incoterms importers might use
- Read this eBook for free: Ultimate Guide To Sourcing From China And Developing Your Suppliers [eBook]
- Read our many posts about disputes with Chinese suppliers and how to handle them
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 Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Sofeast's CEO Renaud welcomes China business expert Angel Ho, CEO of Hongda Business Services in Shenzhen, onto the show to talk about what the business environment for foreigners seeking to do business there today is really like, and about the process of setting up a manufacturing facility in China for foreigners and all of the legal and administrative points you'll need to take care of. They also both share some of the key mistakes that foreign businesses make when setting up their factory.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings.
01:06 - Angel and Hongda introduction.
02:21 - What's the general business environment in China after 'Zero-Covid' really like for foreign businesses?
07:40 - The Chinese economy is less vibrant than before now. What is the government doing to encourage foreign investment?
11:55 - How easy is it to hire foreigners in China today?
16:41 - If a Western company wants to start their own manufacturing company in China, what's the process?
21:30 - Selecting the right area and government support for manufacturers.
25:55 - 7 Common mistakes foreign businesses make when setting up a manufacturing facility in China.
35:39 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Check out Hongda Business Services here and see what kinds of help they can offer you if you're doing business in China now or soon will be
- How We Set Up A New Factory In China From Idea To Operation [Podcast]
- Want To Prevent Assembly Problems? Use This Checklist.
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 Oct 27, 2023
Friday Oct 27, 2023
In this episode...
Adrian and Andrew Amirnovin, Sofeast's reliability expert and our head of New Product Development, return and explore component selection (especially for electronics). This is just one piece of the manufacturing puzzle, but if you get it wrong it will come back to bite you! Luckily, Andrew is here to walk you through 18 steps that will help you choose components that fit the bill.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing today's topic.
01:17 - What is the component selection process and where does it occur during New Product Introduction?
04:20 - The component selection steps:
1. Define your Requirements
2. Select the Key Components
06:02 - 3. Analyze the Operating Environment/s
06:34 - 4. Identify Critical Parameters per component
10:04 - 5. Source the Components
15:26 - 6. Consider the Supply Chain
16:53 - 7. Check for Obsolescence
17:34 - 8. Analyze costs
21:01 - 9. Selecting Components of the right Reliability and Quality
24:53 - 10. Purchase Second-Source Components
26:28 - 11. Component Database
29:08 - 12. Design for Excellence, especially DFM
30:54 - 13. Compliance and Standards
33:49 - 14. Simulating and Prototyping the Product
35:14 - 15. Documentation and Record-Keeping
38:12 - 16. Design Reviews
41:13 - 17. Lock the Bill of Materials (BOM)
44:45 - 18. Pilot Run
45:59 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Get help from Sofeast to do Reliability Engineering & Testing (in a China lab) - we provide reliability engineering services including reliability testing on component and PCB levels as well as the product level on various types of consumer products. Some of these tests include drop, vibration, temperature and humidity and package testing. We can customize the right tests for your product.
- How To Do Product Reliability Testing?
- Golden Sample: Why You Need It Before Mass Production Starts
- Planning For Effective Pilot Runs [Podcast]
- DfX Product design video playlist
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 Oct 20, 2023
Friday Oct 20, 2023
In this episode...
Renaud hosts and is joined by Sofeast's senior engineer Paul Adams to go through Technology Readiness Levels which is a product development framework that is often used to gauge the progress of a new product launch project, especially during prototyping. But is it useful for today's manufacturers who are mass producing, say, consumer electronics? Find out here...
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing today's topic.
01:08 - Where did the TRL originate?
04:37 - The 9 Technology Readiness Levels.
20:02 - Can we use this framework for products that will be mass-produced?
26:09 - What is missing from the TRL in order to manufacture products in large quantities?
37:38 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Technology Readiness Levels: A Better Product Development Framework?
- The Design for X Approach: 12 Common Examples
- DFX: Product Design Optimizations You Should Consider [Podcast]
- The TRL explained [Video]
- Get help to develop your new product and bring it to mass production from our experienced engineers who work with you to guide you and provide expertise where you need it: New Product Introduction support from Sofeast
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: