November 18, 2022

Finding Manufacturing Companies in China – top 5 do’s and don’ts

  • Home
  • /
  • Blog
  • /
  • Sourcing
  • /
  • Finding Manufacturing Companies in China – top 5 do’s and don’ts

When it comes to sourcing a manufacturer for your product, China is often the first place that comes to mind. And for a good reason - China is a manufacturing partner for some of the world's largest and most successful brands like iPhone, Prada, Adidas, Cisco, and many more. 

According to the Made In China (MIC) 2025 initiative, "China is going to modernize its high-tech industries by 2025 - to secure a position as a global powerhouse. Ten major manufacturing sectors, including Medical, Agriculture, Energy, IT, NC tools, and Aerospace, are prioritized in MIC 2025. Transformation to green manufacturing is also a part of this initiative."

So why not take advantage of this and manufacture your product in China?


It's not as easy as it sounds!

Finding the right company can be tricky – there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind. This blog post will outline the top 5 dos and don’ts when looking for a manufacturer in China. Keep these in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to finding a quality supplier.

For those who prefer video content, here’s a video summary of what you’re about to read below.

Top 5 Do’s and Don’ts for Finding Manufacturing Companies in China

Getting your product manufactured in China has a lot of advantages – it’s often cheaper, faster, and easier than in other countries. But behind the scenes, there’s a lot of complexity. To avoid any major pitfalls, here are the top 5 do’s and don’ts when finding manufacturing companies in China.

5 Things to Do – Finding a Reliable Chinese Manufacturer

You can find out a lot about any company on the internet. But we recommend taking things one step further. You can quickly weed out the bad apples and find a reliable manufacturer by keeping an eye out for certain things. Here are five things to look into a Chinese manufacturing company - based on true practices!

1. Do Your Research:

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's important to do your homework when looking for a manufacturer.

But wait a moment - There is something that comes before research as well.


Understanding your requirements is the key!


Once you know what you're looking for, research companies that fit that description. Make your detailed requirement plan which includes:

  • Production type (OEM/ODM) 
  • Materials and components 
  • Product design and development 
  • Certification 
  • Pricing and Packaging 
  • Shipping, and so on.

Now that you know what to research figure out several manufacturers via different channels such as Google, Alibaba, Global Sources, or Made-in-China. Trade shows are also a great way to meet face-to-face with manufacturers. Once you have a list of potential Chinese manufacturing companies, shortlist the suitable one according to your business needs.

A Tip to Success:
 

While shortlisting don't just get impressed by their online reviews - As most of them are paid! Instead, take a look at their customer base and industrial experience. 

2. Do Understand the Manufacturer Capabilities:

After you've found a promising manufacturing company, the next step is to assess its capabilities. 

You must be thinking what's the need to do so?

 

The answer is very simple - Every manufacturer has its own set of capabilities. Some might specialize in certain types of products or materials, while others might have different areas of expertise. So it's important to ensure that the manufacturer you're considering specializes in your required product.


How to Do It:

The best way to do this is by understanding there: 

  • Industry verticals or expertise 
  • Scale of operations 
  • Workforce 
  • Infrastructure, and so on. 

 All these factors will give you an idea about the company's ability to manufacture your product.


Want to know more about finding a distributor in China - Check out our latest blog!


Latest Blog Post: China Distributors - How to Find the Best Ones

3. Do Check the Physical Presence & Qualified Team:

According to our experiences, business owners who visited their manufacturer's facility had a positive experience. If possible, take a trip to the manufacturing unit and get a first-hand look at the facility, the equipment, and the team. 

Is It Important?


Yes, it is!

This will give you an idea of their manufacturing capabilities as well as their commitment to quality.

A professional and well-qualified team is another important factor to consider. The team should be able to communicate effectively and understand your requirements. 

How to Manage it While being Offshore?
 

Partnering with a contract manufacturing company in China is the answer!
 

They will be your single point of contact and help you manage everything, from product development to quality assurance and logistics.

Where to find one?


Don't worry; we will get to that shortly. But before we do, let's consider another important factor.

4. Do Analyze Pricing and Quality Control:

Being in the business you know the importance of pricing and quality control. When looking for manufacturing companies in China, you must ensure they offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality. 

A fare pricing strategy will help you stay competitive in the market and earn good profits. 

As for quality control, it's important to make sure that the manufacturing company has a robust quality control system in place. 

Also, don't forget to ask for their quality control certification.

The Trap:

Most of our clients who failed in their first manufacturing around China claim that they were too focused on pricing to overlook the quality part. They went with the cheaper option - that's where they went wrong!
 

The Solution:

You need to find a perfect balance between pricing and quality! 

And the best way to do that is by getting quotes from different manufacturers and then comparing them side-by-side. 

This will help you understand which company offers the best price without compromising on quality. 

Still confused about the product price - Go and check "Manufacturing Cost of Custom ODM Products in China."

But again - how will you know they will offer a high-quality product at the quoted price?


That's where a contract manufacturing company like MorphoMFG comes in. 

So, why not talk about this contract manufacturing part in detail?

5. Do Partner with a Contract Manufacturer:

When it comes to finding a suitable manufacturing partner in China, there can be a lot of pressure to get things right. After all, a botched product launch can be costly - not to mention embarrassing!

 

That's why many companies choose to partner with a contract manufacturer. They can help to take some of the pressure off and offer valuable insights and expertise. 


A Misconception:


I am onshore and I don't need a contract manufacturer in China.

Absolutely Wrong! 

Even if you're based onshore, a contract manufacturer like MorphoMFG can still help to reduce costs and ensure that your product is designed and manufactured to the highest standard. 

They can also help you with everything from supplier selection and quality assurance to logistics coordination and production engineering. 


Want to know more about finding a reliable contract manufacturer in China - Read out our latest read.

Latest Read: Selecting the Right Manufacturing Partner in China.

5 Things to Avoid – Finding a Reputable Chinese Manufacturing Company

Apart from the tips that we've already discussed, here are five things to avoid while finding manufacturing companies in China.

1. Don’t Do Anything in Hassle:

Do you remember the quote - Haste makes waste?

 

The same goes for finding manufacturing companies in China. Doing things in haste can put you at risk of dealing with unreliable and shady companies.

Take your time, do proper research and make sure that you're dealing with a reliable manufacturing company in China. 

2. Don’t Fall for Fake Manufacturers:

As mentioned earlier, the internet is filled with fake manufacturers that can only be identified after some thorough research. 

Be careful and don’t fall for their fake claims.

The Most Common Trick:

There is one common trick that most fake manufacturers try to pull off - they offer extremely low prices & delivery time.


So, if any manufacturer offers a price that's too good to be true or promises a delivery date that seems impossible, it's likely to be a scam.

3. Don’t Proceed Without Proper Documentation:

Never underestimate the importance of proper documentation in manufacturing. 

Never ever - In the case of a private-label product!

Also, write down everything in the contract - including pricing and payment terms.

It gives you peace of mind and ensures that you're dealing with a legitimate Chinese manufacturing company.

Why are we insisting?

Because this part is often overlooked & can cause problems in the future. Most of our clients who failed to get the desired result did not pay attention to this part of the process.

All they say is - "We wish we had done the documentation properly."

That's why we are sharing this with you - so that you might not be the next one saying the same!

4. Don't Partner with Yes-Man:

The Yes-Man is the one who says yes to almost everything that pops up in the discussion but fails to deliver. You will find a lot of them while dealing with manufacturing companies in China.

It indicates that they lack technical expertise and don't know how to get the job done.

And this is something you should definitely avoid!

5. Don't Prioritize Money over Quality:

Last but not least, no matter how good the price is - always make sure that you're getting a quality product. 


At the end of the day, your reputation is at stake - so don't make any decision that might eventually hurt it!

We saw a lot of live examples who partnered with the manufacturers offering the lowest price, only to regret it later on.

So, if you want your product to succeed, make sure that quality comes first!

Leading Manufacturing Sectors in China – 2022 Review

China offers a diverse range of manufacturing opportunities for businesses across the globe. Anything you can think of from apparel and textiles to electronics, machinery, and automotive - can be found in the country.


According to a report published by World's Top Exports, The top ten manufacturing sectors of China are:

I. Electrical Components - 26.6%

II. Industrial Machinery - 16.3%

III. Fabricated Items, Furniture, and Lighting - 4.2%

IV. Plastic Products - 3.9%

V. Automotive Sector - 3.6%

VI. Toys & Games - 3.1%

VII. Medical Products & Devices - 2.9%

VIII. Steel Items - 2.8%

IX. Clothing and Accessories - 2.6%

X. Chemicals - 2.4%

As you can see, the key manufacturing sectors in China are wide and varied. Depending on your specific product requirements, you can choose from plenty of options.

But from thousands of manufacturing units, how do you identify the best one for you?

Let's understand this from an example!

The Example:


Suppose you are planning to manufacture a product in china that is related to the textile industry. Now there are almost 44,000 textile manufacturing companies in China. Even if you shortlist 50 companies with different locations and visit one company in a day, it will take nearly two months to finish the whole process.

Two hectic months to identify the right manufacturing partner. And you know what? We haven't even added the hassle of shortlisting those 44,000 companies into the equation.

So, what's the best possible solution?

The Solution:

Take the help of a contract manufacturer!

Contract manufacturing services can do the heavy lifting for you - finding suppliers, negotiating with factories, auditing factories, reviewing quality control systems, and finally, helping you find the best manufacturer for your product.

And if you partner with a reliable contract manufacturer like MorphoMFG, they have much more to offer than just finding a suitable manufacturer.

Now, you might be thinking - It can be expensive, right?

No, not really! 

In fact, it's one of the most cost-effective solutions out there. Spare a moment to calculate your expense and time in visiting the factories, and you'll be surprised to see how much money and time you can save.

It's not only cost-effective but also efficient!

But you still need to learn much about manufacturing your product in China.

And for this - Check our "Offshore Manufacturing" guide.

Don’t have Expertise in Finding Manufacturing Companies in China – Hand it to Experts!

We know after going through all the points mentioned above, you might be thinking:

Finding manufacturing companies in China is more challenging than it seems!

Don't worry - you don't need to do the heavy lifting. 

MorphoMFG is here to help you find the best manufacturing partner in China - without any hassle!

We have been helping businesses around the world for the past 7 years in finding the right OEM partner. And not only this, but we also provide a wide range of services - from quality control to prototyping and logistics. 

Visit our homepage to learn more about our services in detail.

Our team of experts is equipped with the knowledge and expertise of Chinese business modules, which helps you in finding a suitable manufacturing partner without facing any issues. We have a pool of reliable manufacturers, shortlisted after several test runs, waiting to help you with your manufacturing needs.

You might be thinking - Onboarding a manufacturer is a matter of minutes for us!

But the reality is something else.

Even though we have been in this business for the past 7 years, onboarding the right manufacturer still takes around 30 days. And anyone quoting shorter than that is either bluffing or not doing it correctly.

Want to know more about how we do that, or want us to help you find the right manufacturer?

Schedule a Call with us today, and we'll be happy to assist you. Thanks for reading!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is it Cheaper to Manufacture in China?

It all depends on the product you are trying to manufacture. Regarding labor and production costs, China is one of the cheapest countries in the world.


You can find a product at $10 and another with the same design at $100 in China. But the most significant factor is the quality. Chinese manufacturers will get your job done according to your budget.


Now it's all up to your priorities!


But if you are looking for some options according to your budget in China, MorphoMFG can help you with that. With years of experience in finding Chinese manufacturers, we can help you find the best possible quality at an affordable price. Contact us today to learn about the best possible option for your needs.

Which one is the leading Manufacturing Company in China?

Actually, it's all depending upon the sector or product you are looking for. There are tons of reliable manufacturing companies in China, and it's only possible to pick one knowing the product details or quality requirements.


It's hard to pick one without evaluating dozens of options, and it's even harder to select the right one.

But MorphoMFG can help you with this. You need to share your requirements, and our experts will get you the best available manufacturer


So why wait? 


Visit our website today, and let's get started! 

About the author

Josh Fairbairn

CEO of MorphoMFG, fluent in Mandarin, Blogger, and Youtuber. Josh loves interesting materials and the craftsmanship that goes into creating innovative products - watches, tech, games, whisky, leather, wood, blockchain & electronics. Josh and his team in Guangzhou, China are striving to create (& consume) the world’s highest quality products. Partnering with entrepreneurs globally to help solve the world's problems - whether small or large.

You may also like

Book a call today

Start a conversation with one of our business development managers below.

Once you do, you’ll see a video that explains the types of project we take on - as well as those we don’t. MorphoMFG is a contract manufacturer specializing in complex projects, so we do have a few requirements.

Start a conversation now to learn more about how we can take your business to new heights with enhanced manufacturing in China.