49.2K
Downloads
255
Episodes
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 Aug 04, 2023
Friday Aug 04, 2023
In this episode...
Sofeast's CEO Renaud and Andrew Amirnovin, reliability expert and our head of New Product Development, explore two high-profile product reliability nightmares that have been in the news recently: the destruction of the Oceangate Titan submersible that catastrophically imploded near the wreck of the Titanic and the reliability failures of the Siemens Gamesa wind turbines that suffered from vibration landing them with a $ 2 billion price tag to fix and denting their stock prices
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing today's topic.
02:23 - 1. The destruction of the Titan submersible visiting the wreck of the Titanic.
22:14 - Do strict standards actually stifle innovation and make it hard for new companies to enter a market?
27:46 - 2. Vibrating Siemens Gamesa wind turbines.
34:52 - Comparing possible testing solutions for the Titan sub and the wind turbines.
39:52 - Summary: What it takes to manufacture and keep manufacturing a reliable product.
Related content...
- The Oceangate Titan submersible
- The Siemens Gamesa wind turbines
- 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 Reliability Testing Is Critical To Obtaining Great Mass-Produced Products
- The Design for Reliability Process for Launching Reliable Products
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 Jul 28, 2023
Friday Jul 28, 2023
Sofeast CEO Renaud welcomes our friend Fredrik Grönkvist of Compliancegate.com to the show today to talk about EU product compliance, in particular, harmful substances of note, common regulations or directives you need to comply with, and what we can learn from recent data about non-compliant products found by EU market surveillance authorities. They also provide some great advice about how to ringfence compliance from your suppliers during the procurement stage of your project which is helpful no matter where you're listening!
Show Sections
00:00 - Introducing our guest: Fredrik Grönkvist of Compliancegate and our topic today.
03:16 - Why has the EU banned certain substances from being used in products?
05:40 - Examining the list of non-compliant products caught in the EU since 2022 for chemical composition safety reasons. What can we learn?
10:00 - 4 directives or regulations related to the chemical makeup of products imported into the EU.
16:02 - What are the key non-compliances and problem substances found for common product categories imported into the EU in the past year?
23:09 - Are there any problems with using data about harmful substances found and common non-compliances to predict future issues with your products?
27:36 - What actions do importers need to take to be compliant in general?
29:16 - What's the role of procurement when it comes to product compliance?
36:35 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Don't forget to visit Fredrik's site Compliancegate.com and request help with your project. Their tool is great for most consumer products and will give you a detailed understanding of your potential compliance requirements.
- Learn how to create a valid manufacturing contract in China
- Find the right supplier from China. Click here to listen 👉 DIY Sourcing from China Podcast Series
- What is EU RoHS certification?
- 11 Common Electronic Product Certification And Compliance Requirements
- Get help from Sofeast with Compliance Testing Consulting where our experts confirm which standards your product must comply with and create and implement a compliance testing plan for you.
- Watch: on Youtube (The video version is a recording of the discussion and includes graphs and charts showing the data discussed)
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 Jul 21, 2023
Friday Jul 21, 2023
Renaud and Adrian tackle the issue of whether partnering with your Chinese factory is a misguided intention. The Western win-win mindset doesn't mean as much in China, and buyers may find that neglecting basic protections such as a manufacturing contract in the name of not upsetting their supplier and having a 'strong partnership' is a big mistake. Here's why...
Show Sections
00:00 - Introduction.
01:22 - Why some buyers are attracted to 'partnering up' and what it really means.
05:18 - What is the basis for a good partnership that really makes sense for buyers who develop their own products?
08:24 - How about the relationship for buyers purchasing existing products from an ODM?
13:33 - Why there is an unspoken assumption by Chinese ODM suppliers that if they do you a favor, you will owe them one back.
15:57 - Leaving things open because you want a good partnership with a supplier and don't want to upset them by enforcing a contract is a recipe for trouble.
22:31 - Activities you can take as a buyer that will help to build a good relationship with your supplier.
31:02 - Be aware of your track record with suppliers, because word spreads.
35:00 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Negotiating terms, leverage over suppliers, and describing your needs
- Responsible & Sustainable Purchasing Practices in Focus
- Vetting Chinese suppliers (Podcast series)
- Kraljic Matrix: Sourcing a Strategic Supplier – Are YOU a Good Fit for THEM?
- Learn how to create a valid manufacturing contract in China
- OEM, ODM, Contract Manufacturers: Choose your China Supplier Wisely
- Responsible purchasing 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 Jul 14, 2023
Friday Jul 14, 2023
In this episode...
Sofeast's Andrew Amirnovin, product reliability expert, joins Adrian from the team to introduce reliability testing and explain the kinds of questions you'll need to answer if you're bringing a new product to market and want to assure that it's as reliable as possible. You may know that you need your product to be reliable, but what's involved? Listen in, and you'll get a good grounding in reliability and be ready to answer the questions your reliability engineer will be asking you.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction to today's topic.
02:01 - What is product reliability?
04:41 - Quality is not the same as reliability.
07:06 - Someone doesn't know how to get started with reliability testing. What questions might we ask them in order to proceed?
- What industry is the product in?
- What kind of product is it?
14:29 - What are your reliability needs for the product?
16:54 - What if someone's reliability demands are too extreme or not strict enough?
18:45 - Examples of common reliability testing requirements for a typical consumer product (a smartwatch in this case).
22:11 - Reliability does have a cost, but is it a worthwhile investment?
28:45 - For many consumer products, focus on your product being at least reliable enough to last beyond its warranty period, but without over-designing and testing it to the point of overkill.
30:49 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Design for Reliability Secrets [Podcast]
- Why Product Safety, Quality, and Reliability Are Tightly Linked
- Cost Of Poor Quality and Reliability: “Pay Me Now, or Pay Me Later.”
- How Reliability Testing Is Critical To Obtaining Great Mass-Produced Products
- 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:
Friday Jul 07, 2023
Friday Jul 07, 2023
Renaud answers four exciting questions from our listeners in this episode. We cover new product development, if and how to start purchasing and importing electronics, supplier bankruptcy, and tips for controlling product quality and reliability.
Show Sections
00:00 - Introduction.
01:22 - 1. New product development for a product with a GSM module. How to integrate the module (if at all)?
11:34 - 2. How to buy and sell electronics like laptops, smartphones, and their accessories on a budget?
20:11 - 3. How to know if my manufacturer is going to go bankrupt soon?
31:16 - 4. The products I receive keep breaking, how to control quality?
38:23 - P.S. If you are visiting China, activate digital wallets!
42:22 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Alipay and WeChat wallet for foreign users
- How Reliability Testing Is Critical To Obtaining Great Mass-Produced Products
- Sofeast Example Quality Assurance Plan (for an electronic product)
- Click here to listen 👉 DIY Sourcing from China Series
- How To Switch To A New Chinese Manufacturer And/Or Develop A Backup Supplier (Free eBook)
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 30, 2023
Friday Jun 30, 2023
In this episode...
Sofeast's Andrew Amirnovin, reliability expert and head of New Product Development, joins Adrian from the team as they discuss which factors impact electronic product design costs and why. This will be a helpful reminder for any business designing a new product that wants to keep a control over costs.
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing today's topic.
01:14 - Why controlling product cost is more important these days?
03:26 - 1. Component Selection
05:35 - 2. Manufacturing processes.
08:01 - 3. Material Selection.
09:58 - 4. Assembly and Labor Costs.
14:14 - 5. Product size and Weight.
17:31 - 6. Energy Efficiency.
21:03 - 7. DFM (Design for Manufacturability).
24:14 - 8. Testing and Quality Assurance.
28:18 - 9. Regulatory Compliance.
33:24 - 10. Product Lifecycle Costs.
37:29 - How we handle the above factors when working with customers.
43:02 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Ultimate Guide To Sourcing From China And Developing Your Suppliers [eBook]
- Design for X approaches [Video playlist]
- Cost of quality [Video playlist]
- Your Cost of Poor Quality Is Higher Than You Think
- 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:
Friday Jun 23, 2023
Friday Jun 23, 2023
Renaud and Adrian discuss responsible and sustainable purchasing, the latter taking things even further than the former, and why buyers play an important role in their suppliers' ESG performance. This episode will give you food for thought on how your actions affect the supply chain.
Show Sections
00:00 - Introduction.
02:44 - What is responsible purchasing? (+ 3 examples)
14:34 - Responsible product design practices is a linked topic.
16:29 - What is sustainable purchasing?
18:55 - How sustainable procurement affects the supply chain.
25:50 - 'Big buyers' are in a position to make positive changes. Small buyers, less so, but you still have options.
30:30 - Forthcoming EU regulations will demand buyers to purchase more responsibly and sustainably.
35:06 - The good news: You will save money!
36:51 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- RPP quote source
- The ISO 20400:2017 standard
- Ultimate Guide To Sourcing From China And Developing Your Suppliers [eBook]
- Click here to listen 👉 DIY Sourcing from China Series
- What is the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation?
- Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Requirements: What Manufacturers need to know
- Cost of quality 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 Jun 16, 2023
Friday Jun 16, 2023
Renaud and Adrian are both coming live from China for the first time on the podcast. Now they've both been able to visit following covid, what has most obviously changed? What tips do they have for business visitors? How's the economic landscape? Here are their observations, focusing on Guangdong, as that's where Sofeast is based.
Show Sections
00:00 - Introduction: China's sluggish recovery from Covid.
03:55 - Are Covid restrictions still around?
05:26 - Fewer foreigners in China now.
09:33 - Chinese EVs rule the road.
15:05 - E-bikes are now permitted in the city center.
19:24 - The transport system across the 'Greater Bay Area' is expanding faster than anyone can imagine.
25:26 - High-speed rail is easier for foreigners to use, just beware of new crowd control measures.
27:25 - Facial recognition technology is in use in a lot of places, especially to pay for goods and enter buildings.
29:08 - Restaurants in Shenzhen are pricier and ordering may be harder for foreigners now.
32:43 - LinkedIn is now blocked in China.
36:13 - Paying by cash and even card is more difficult. You need to go digital.
39:52 - Online deliveries have exploded.
46:00 - People seem to socialize a bit differently, congregating in malls.
47:32 - Is China as hostile to foreign business as the media suggests?
51:27 - Wrapping up.
Related content...
- Health Declaration Form via the China Customs website
- Guidance for setting up Alipay from HSBC bank
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 09, 2023
Friday Jun 09, 2023
In this episode...
Sofeast's CEO Renaud and head of New Product Development, Andrew discuss how to build a product while keeping the whole customer journey in mind. There is more to launching a product than just making a good product, strange as it may sound at first, and you'll see that manufacturers need to consider the whole customer journey when designing and developing their products. The customer journey can be split into 8 steps, and we go through them here...
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introducing today's topic.
04:49 - 1. Awareness.
13:06 - 2. Education
17:51 - 3. Acquisition.
24:31 - 4. Product.
27:39 - 5. Onboarding.
32:15 - 6. Usage.
38:08 - 7. Support.
41:51 - 8. Loyalty.
48:22 - In conclusion.
Related content...
- An Importer’s Guide to New Product Manufacturing in China [PDF eBook]
- The NPI Process: Trouble Awaits If You Skip Its Steps! [Podcast]
- What’s the real Cost of Poor Quality and Reliability? [Podcast]
- How Reliability Testing Is Critical To Obtaining Great Mass-Produced Products
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 02, 2023
Friday Jun 02, 2023
Renaud and Adrian from Sofeast are talking about forthcoming sustainability requirements which are going to require importers to have a LOT more visibility over their supply chains, especially those who sell in the EU. They dig into how this will affect you in this episode...
Show Sections
00:00 - Greetings and introduction.
01:40 - The EU 'Green Deal's' new sustainability requirements and what they mean.
07:35 - What sustainability information must be collected?
17:12 - How easy will it be to get visibility into your supply chain?
29:18 - Approaches used to oversee supply chains.
43:46 - Why the old business model of buying off-the-shelf products from an ODM will probably need to change?
46:14 - Conclusion: What you can do to prepare and how this will affect many areas in future.
Related content...
- Get help from Sofeast to comply with EU sustainability regulations: EU Ecodesign Regulation Risk Assessment & Preparation
- WSJ article: Companies Rush to Trace Sprawling Supply Chains as Sustainability Rules Loom
- The EU Green Deal
- What is the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation?
- 23 Ideas For Producing More Eco-Friendly Products
- How To Get Transparency And Control Over Your Supply Chain? [podcast]
- Design For Sustainability
- 15 Key Eco Certifications For Green Manufacturers
- Various Green Manufacturing Resources
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: