Find Reputable Chinese Factories to Manufacture Your Products

You have a solid product line, but you're having problems scaling up your production with your current manufacturer. You may not be able to afford the production costs of your present manufacturer at the scale you want. Changing to Chinese factories may help you reduce your manufacturing costs while increasing the amount you produce within the same time span.
You have some work to do to find reputable Chinese companies for your manufacturing needs, as less than savory business practices can trip you up, and it's harder to keep on top of things if you aren't physically at the location. Follow these tips to find a reputable Chinese factory.

1. Pursue Word-of-Mouth Options

The best way to start is to pursue options that your colleagues and business partners have used. These factories are vetted, have produced well enough to get word-of-mouth recommendations and give you a good jumping-off point. If you don't work with anyone who has used Chinese manufacturing directly, go to business networking events and expand your social circles. It shouldn't take long before you find someone who has experience with Chinese factories. Another avenue is to go a factory trade show, ideally one based in China. You get to see samples directly, talk with the factory owners and get an idea of the production capabilities of each factory. If possible, get references, so you can get a sense of how well they work for other companies.

2. Pay Attention to Ethical Issues

China does not have the same laws governing human rights as the United States, so it's important to pay attention to the business and personal ethics of the factory you choose. Be aware of poor working conditions that lead to health issues for the workers, low or no pay, and even children working in the factories. This reflects poorly on your company from a PR and a personal standpoint, and poor working conditions means quality control is not going to be as stringent. Arrange for a factory tour and talk with workers in the plant. Find out what they're getting paid, whether the company keeps on top of payments, the working conditions and other important details. You may end up paying more for a manufacturer that adheres to the same human and worker rights standards as domestic factories, but it's well worth the extra cost.

3. Work with an Intermediary 

One of the best ways to ensure a quality Chinese factory experience is to have someone at the factory oversee production. Unless you're uprooting to China, however, it's likely you won't be able to stay on top of it the way you'd like. Instead of stressing out, contract with an intermediary to do this task for you. You can find local Chinese business people who act as the liaison between business owners and factories. Not only can they speak the language, they also have plenty of connections within China to help you with your goals. If you want to expand to other factories, work on new product lines or explore other business opportunities, having someone on the ground in China makes everything run smoother. Also, it helps you worry less about business operations that you can't entirely control, since you're thousands of miles away.
You get several advantages with Chinese manufacturing. The first is that manufacturing costs are significantly lower than in other countries. You also have the advantage of working with established manufacturing companies that handle the production of items you use constantly, whether it's household goods or electronics. Chosen carefully, Chinese factories can be a major boost to your business.