When we think of new electronic products being developed and brought to market, perhaps the hardware comes to mind first. However, what runs the hardware? The software. It’s fair to say that today a product’s software has become a significant source of competitive advantage, often surpassing hardware in importance for some electronics manufacturers. Consider Apple’s iPhone in comparison to many Android models. Are users buying it primarily because of the phone hardware, or the software ecosystem? We’ll examine why software drives innovation, user experience, and brand differentiation and look ..read more

Prototyping is a critical step for anyone developing and bringing a new product to market. for design houses, manufacturing companies, and product developers alike. Let’s explore the differences between prototyping equipment and those used for mass production. You’ll also learn about 5 key uses of prototyping equipment, including: Creating functional prototypes to validate concepts and improve design. Developing visually appealing prototypes to enhance user experience and aesthetics. Combining look-like and work-like prototypes for comprehensive testing. Conducting stress testing to ensu ..read more

Let’s discuss factory audit selection, covering the ins and outs of different audits and how to select the best one for your needs. You’ll learn about initial factory evaluations, quality system audits, social compliance audits, and environmental system audits; including what each audit entails, why they are important, and how to choose the most appropriate audit for your situation. Whether you are sourcing a new supplier or ensuring compliance with existing partners, there will be tips to help you make informed decisions and manage risks effectively.   If you prefer listening to reading ..read more

Over the past 15 years, I have been shocked by the large-scale malpractice that social compliance audits represent. I wrote about it in several articles: Social compliance audits in factories: perverse effects Social Compliance Audits: Fear, Lies, and Corruption Brands and Retailers: Please Stop Doing Social Compliance Audits in Asia The auditing process is still badly broken. Most social audits are done for retailers and brands that want to be able to say something like “85%% of the factories working for us have scored at 70% of higher”. Suppliers are typically audited yearly. If a factory ..read more

China used to be well-known for mainly cheap, low-quality products, but those days are largely behind us. Any number of cutting-edge and high-quality products are made in China now, think Apple and Tesla products, world-class white goods, and many consumer electronics, to name but a few. So how did China move away from poor quality to amongst the best in the world? We trace the story and the driving factors over the past few decades here…   If you prefer listening to reading… Listen to the audio here.   Where did the concept of poor-quality Chinese products come from? It simply come ..read more

Kate, Sofeast’s Supply Chain Management head, provides an update on shipping costs from China in June 2024. It’s bad news, unfortunately, as costs are rising and there are now unexpected fees being added by shipping lines, too. So what are the costs and what’s driving them? In addition, Kate also dispels confusion about whether to use FOB or FCA incoterms. The former is generally accepted as ‘good’ in China, but as an importer, it might leave you open to unnecessary risk…   If you prefer listening to reading… Listen to the audio here.   Shipping costs from China are spiking. How muc ..read more

Let’s listen to Elon Musk’s insights and philosophy into developing and bringing new products to market (from an interview by ‘Everyday Astronaut’ on YouTube at his launch facility a few years back). A love/hate figure, Musk has succeeded in bringing wildly popular and innovative products to market and continues to push the boundaries of conventional wisdom. As such, he knows a thing or two about new product introductions and has done the hard yards to get there. What can we learn from his NPI philosophy? He makes several good points which importers should think of when designing, developing ..read more

Renaud is joined by Andrew Amirnovin, Sofeast’s product reliability head, and they’re looking at how Apple tests iPhone reliability and durability. Recently Marques Brownlee shared some videos from within Apple’s testing lab and interviews with their head of hardware engineering and the insights were interesting. It turns out that Andrew also visited Apple’s reliability test lab for iPhones (years ago) and he shares his own insights about that, and the pair discuss what you can learn from the way Apple do things.   If you prefer listening to reading… Listen to the audio here.   The ..read more

What are the design reviews typically carried out during the new product design, development, and manufacturing process, and when do they take place? These reviews are an important piece of the puzzle for reducing the risks of reliability issues and defects in your products, as such you will want to implement them.   If you prefer listening to reading… Listen to the audio here.   Why design reviews are important. Getting early feedback on your new product design from experienced parties or those who have relevant experience is a must. They can check what you are planning to do and c ..read more

Suppose you’re buying products from China now and thinking about near sourcing to diversify your pool of suppliers and take advantage of the benefits of working with closer suppliers. In that case, this post is a good introduction! Fredrik Gronkvist, founder of Productmkr.com, gives us his take on near-sourcing from Europe + Turkey VS buying from China. How does near-sourcing benefit buyers compared with shipping from China? Is there a difference between working with EU and Chinese suppliers? How can you prepare your business and processes to get better results? Are there any products that are ..read more