Manufacturers in China have been stereotyped to be low-cost and poor quality. This has led many businesses, particularly in the West, to avoid working with them. However, this is no longer the case. Many reliable Chinese contract manufacturers can now provide a wide range of services, from consultation to product development and quality control to logistics & shipping.
According to the "Made in China 2025" plan unveiled by China State Council, "The Chinese government is intensifying its efforts to build China into a manufacturing powerhouse, following the 10-year action plan. This plan prioritized nine tasks, including upgrading manufacturing innovation, promoting green manufacturing, internationalizing manufacturing, and many more." The plan is already halfway through, as they have been working on it since 2015. So, if you are planning to work with a manufacturing company in China, now it's the perfect time!
Remember don't just jump into the pool without knowing what to look for—you need to be careful while manufacturing your product in China and for this, you need to partner with a contract manufacturing company.
But how to find a suitable one?
There are myriads of contract manufacturers in China, and each offers its own unique set of capabilities, services, and prices. This blog will give you 5 tips to help you find the right Chinese contract manufacturer for your business - someone that fits your specific needs and requirements.
For those who prefer video content, here’s a video summary of what you’re about to read below.
5 Tips to Find the Right Chinese Contract Manufacturer
When it comes to finding a Chinese contract manufacturer, there are many things to consider. How do you know which one is right for your business? What should you look for, and what should you avoid? Here are five tips to help make the process a little easier.
1. Research and Shortlist:
No one knows your business better than you. So, you must do your homework and research according to your niche. Checking out online reviews and portfolios is not enough because they might be fake - as most fake companies do.
Then how to do quality research?
First, you can list potential contract manufacturers in China and then narrow it down according to your specific requirements.
For example:
If you are looking for a company that specializes in quality control, you need to research and find companies with a good reputation in this area. Similarly, if you need a company that can provide prototype development services, you should look for companies with expertise in this domain.
The Problem:
You know product development is a complex process involving many different aspects, from onboarding a suitable manufacturer to quality control and logistics. Managing all of these aspects can be difficult, especially if you're inexperienced.
Additionally, if it's your first time working with a Chinese company, you may not be familiar with the cultural differences and communication barriers. Another possibility is to fall for a "too good to be true" offer, which may end up being a scam - stay aware, stay safe!
So, what should you do?
The Solution:
You don't need to worry about all of these things!
All you need to do is find a reliable and trustworthy Chinese contract manufacturer to help you with the entire product development process - from start to finish.
It will save you time and money and reduce the risk of potential problems - better to be safe than sorry!
2. Company Capabilities:
Will you ever buy a car without taking a test drive first?
Of course not!
Then why would you sign a contract with a company without knowing what they're capable of?
Make sure to do your due diligence and research the company's capabilities before you sign on the dotted line.
Several things come under the company's capabilities, such as its past projects, professional team, core competencies, etc. Let's have a look at some of them in detail:
• Manufacturing experience:
The company you choose should have significant experience in contract manufacturing in China. Any company with less than five years of experience is a big NO!
You need to partner with a company that has a good understanding of the Chinese manufacturing landscape and knows how to navigate the challenges that come with it.
The contract manufacturer should also have an in-depth understanding of your specific industry.
They must have done some similar projects in the past and should be able to share those case studies with you.
• Qualified Team:
A qualified and professional team is one of the most important things to look for in a contract manufacturing company. The team should have a good mix of engineers, quality control specialists, project managers, and customer care executives.
Let's have a look at what an unqualified team will do to your project.
Most companies offering cheap contract manufacturing services in China have an unqualified team. As a result, they cannot understand your technical requirements and often make mistakes at different stages of the product development process. This can lead to delays, rework, and an inferior quality product.
Their main priority is to get your project done at cheap rates, and they couldn't care less about the quality.
What's the use of a cheap product if it doesn't meet your quality standards and fails to serve its purpose?
It will only cost you more in the long run as you'll have to get it fixed or develop a new product from scratch - that's what most failed businesses do.
• Ability to Handle Projects:
Ever wonder why some projects are completed on time while others are delayed?
The answer is simple - it all comes down to the company's ability to handle projects.
A company that takes on more projects than it can handle is only setting itself up for failure.
You must ensure that the company you're planning to partner with can take on your project.
But how?
The best way to do this is by checking their current project load and seeing if they have the resources to take on your project - without compromising on quality.
3. Physical Presence:
Avoid working with companies that only have an online presence and no physical address.
We repeat - Avoid!
Why we are saying this?
Most of our clients, who previously got scammed, tell us that for the first time when they were looking for a Chinese contract manufacturer, they found a few companies online, checked their reviews, and decided to contact them.
What happened next?
These companies delivered sub-standard products, used cheap materials, and the worst part - they completely went unresponsive. No response to phone calls, no answer to emails, and no trace of them on the internet.
They can't even take legal action as they don't have any physical presence or registered business in China.
But wait - don't get us wrong!
We're not saying that reliable companies don't have any online presence. In fact, all companies these days have an online presence. But what we are trying to say is - only reliable ones have both an online and physical presence.
So, before proceeding with a contract manufacturing company in China, ensure they have a physical address and are present in China.
4. Company’s Priority – Money or Quality!
You must clearly understand that every service provider will charge you, but the difference lies in their priority.
There are some contractors whose first and last priority is money. They insist you finalize the deal without even going through your project details. As soon as you make the payment, their responsibility is completed from their perspective.
The Trap:
You must be thinking - how will they trap me?
They trap you by promising top-quality services at dirt-cheap rates. And to save some bucks, you get lured into their trap.
The Solution:
The simple way to figure them out is by comparing their quotations with their competitors. If it's too good to be true, then it probably is!
Don't know what exactly a custom ODM product costs in China?
Check out our pricing guide below, which will give you a clear idea about your product pricing.
Pricing Guide: Manufacturing Costs for Custom ODM Products in China.
5. Company Credibility:
Make sure that the company you're planning on working with is legally registered in China.
How to check this?
The easiest way to check this is through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System - a public database of all the registered companies in China.
Is it important?
Yes, it is!
If the company you're planning to partner with is not registered in China, it's most likely a scam. In case of trouble, you can't even take legal action against them as they're not registered in China.
And who knows - maybe they don't even exist!
Checking their registration status is the best way to avoid any future trouble.
So, there are the top 5 things that you must check before partnering with a Chinese contract manufacturer.
Are you interested in getting your product manufactured in China?
You should check out our detailed blog post: Offshore Manufacturing in China.
Contract Manufacturing in China – Helpful or Not!
Contract manufacturing in China has been a topic of debate for a long time.
For some people, it’s helpful as it can save you a lot of money. For others, it’s not worth the hassle as it can lead to sub-standard products and communication difficulties - if went wrong!
So, what’s the truth?
The Truth:
Well, both these opinions are right to some extent.
If you are onshore and have a lot of time on your hands, then you or your team can manage the entire manufacturing process by yourselves. But again, if you don't have the expertise, you can make many mistakes that will cost you time, money, and client reputation.
On the other hand, working with a contract manufacturer in China can be helpful if you want to focus on your core business and don't have the time or knowledge to get involved in manufacturing.
And that's what most leading brands like Apple, Cisco, Nike, and Lenovo do.
Outsourcing your manufacturing to the right contract manufacturer like Morpho MFG, not only gives you peace of mind but also gives you the freedom to focus on other important aspects of your business.
Want to learn more about the pros and cons of manufacturing in China?
Read More: The Pros and Cons of Manufacturing in China.
Understanding the Business Culture in China
Suppose you are planning to do business in China or are already doing business with a Chinese company. In that case, you need to understand the business culture in China.
Not understanding the Chinese business culture can lead to many misunderstandings and even jeopardize your business deals.
You must understand that the Chinese business model is completely different from the Western business model. You will face many challenges in China, like language barriers, cultural differences, and work ethics.
Apart from that, Chinese people are very relationship-driven. They know how to value and build strong relationships.
But as there is a saying, "One dirty fish can spoil the whole pond."
How to run a successful business in China?
So, to be successful in China, you need to have a local partner who knows the business culture and can help you avoid pitfalls. And Morpho MFG has all the right connections and expertise to help you succeed in China.
MorphoMFG – Level One Contract Manufacturing Company in China
Morpho MFG is one such leading contract manufacturing company in Guangzhou, China, that has been in this business for over seven years. We helped many startups and international brands manufacture and source products from China.
With a large pool of manufacturing companies, we are not limited to any specific industry. In fact, anything from manufacturing board games to luxury watches or electronics products, you name it, we can manufacture it.
Josh (MorphoMFG CEO) developed a pool of reliable manufacturers - but trust us, that was not easy!
He visited 3 factories every day for 2 years and tested over 750 factories by giving them small orders.
Sounds tiring, right?
But it was all worth it as that's how we eliminate the weak performers and build a solid foundation of the best manufacturers in China. Currently, we are a team of 40 people and have several offices in Guangzhou, China.
You must be thinking about our services - Are you?
We have much more to offer than finding the best manufacturers for your products.
What Can We Do For You?
We at Morpho MFG offer various services to fulfill your manufacturing needs in China. Our services include:
- Consultation
- Onboarding
- Product Development
- Mass Production
- Quality Control
- Shipping & Logistics
In other words, we have a one-stop solution for your production needs.
How do we work?
Our working process is quite simple and efficient.
- The first step is to schedule a consultation call with our team.
- In this consultation call, we will get to know your product, business goals, and target market.
- Then we will transfer your requirements to our engineers, who will analyze your product and assign it to a suitable manufacturer by following the "Component Control Method."
(Our manufacturer onboarding process took 30-days because we want to be 100% sure about the quality of your product. And anyone offering time less than that is not being honest with you.)
- After this, we will enter into the production phase - prototyping, then mass production!
- Once your product is ready, our quality control team will inspect it to make sure that it meets all of the requirements and standards.
- And in the end, you don't need to worry about the shipping, as we will also take care of that. We ensure that your products are delivered to you on time.
Do you know what the best part is?
We provide regular reporting so that you can track the progress of your project and be in the know at all times! And due to our direct relations with the manufacturers, we can offer you the best pricing as well.
Want to know more about us?
Visit our homepage and learn everything about us in detail. If you have any questions or queries, feel free to contact us. We would be more than happy to assist you. Thanks for reading!
Frequently Asked Question
How Do I Contact a Chinese Contract Manufacturer?
It's just a matter of a few clicks! Scroll across various Chinese contract manufacturers on Google and reach out to them via the provided contact information on their website. You may also find some good recommendations from your business network or other online communities such as Reddit, Quora, and Facebook.
Don't forget to check their physical presence and business registration in China!
Contract Manufacturing Company in China:
If you are looking for a Chinese contract manufacturer to help you with your product development and manufacturing needs, look no further than Morpho MFG. We have a professional staff and a network of reliable manufacturers built over the years. We offer various services, from product development to quality control and shipping. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
Why Choose China for Manufacturing?
There are many reasons to choose China for manufacturing. The country has a large pool of manufacturers to choose from, and the labor costs are relatively low. In addition, China has a strong infrastructure and can produce products quickly and efficiently. Finally, the country has several free trade agreements that can help you save on import duties and taxes.
China is also shifting towards green manufacturing practices, so you can be sure that your products are sustainable. And as Chinese manufacturing companies are using industry 4.0 technologies, you can expect your products to be of high quality and made with precision.
