Manufacturing Inventions in China: 5 Things You Need to Know

If you’re manufacturing inventions, it’s a common practice to find a Chinese manufacturer that already makes similar products. Manufacturing Inventions in China can be faster and less expensive than working locally.

Below are 5 tips on working with China in the manufacturing process:

Be prepared

One of the most important things about sourcing in Asia is to go in with what your manufacturing partner will require in order to produce the item. This means having all your technical files like 2D line drawings, 3D CAD files, electrical schematics, Pantone colours, assembly instructions, and the list goes on.

Negotiate

Just like in real estate or other aspects of business, negotiation is expected and even encouraged when you manufacture your invention in Asia. Negotiation shows you’re business savvy, so make sure you work with someone who knows how to negotiate.

Learn About the Culture

This is critical in doing business overseas. We are all well aware of the culture here in North America but often we have little to no knowledge about the culture in other countries. India, for example, has a holiday pretty much once a month. China shuts down in the fall, the spring, and almost the entire month of February. Since there is nothing you can do about it, it’s important to plan accordingly and be aware of these differences so it doesn’t slow you down when manufacturing inventions.

Find a Service Partner

Finding a service partner to work with you when you start, even if it’s just temporary, can add a lot of value. There is a level of maintenance that needs to be completed as you go through the process to manufacture your invention. Maintenance like logistics, supply chain, quality control, quality development, process improvement, and that’s just to name a few. A service partner can help with all these steps.

Develop a Relationship

Once you have established a supplier, expect for it to be a long-term relationship. Go into the relationship with a positive attitude. This will not only help the quality of your product but it will also help with pricing and logistics down the line. Managing and developing this relationship is so important in every step of the development process.

These are just some of the things to keep in mind when working with China or other countries overseas while manufacturing inventions.