Letter from China

Paul Wray, Managing Director of Furntec Ltd and Modern Outlook Furniture, shares an insight into the furniture industry in China and how to find the right partner.

How to partner with the right factory in China

China has been referred to as the factory of the world for some time now. Over 50% of the world’s furniture is made in China. When looking for a manufacturing partner you may find it difficult to see the woods from the trees, there is a broad range of options and solutions to suit all budgets, how do you know which will work for you?

Below I have detailed several points you will want to focus on to ensure you don’t come up against any nasty surprises. At Modern Outlook Furniture we work with hundreds of manufacturers across China to meet the needs of our retail clients in the UK and USA, so we have a fair bit of experience when it comes to knowing what to look for.

Factory inspections

While certification and legislation offer some peace of mind, having a physical factory inspection is unrivalled. You will want to work with a third party based in China to inspect the factory is clean, organised and pay attention to how physical stock is being handled on the premises. If it is not being stored or packed correctly, this should be a red flag for future issues which could arise with your products.

Factory inspections will also give you an opportunity to speak to your contact and get an idea of how much they understand about the production processes. If they are not knowledgeable about each stage of production this could be another red flag that you are not dealing directly with the factory or they may not be able to meet requirements to your satisfaction once your order has been placed.

Clarity on factory processes

Be sure to get a comprehensive rundown of all factory processes. If your manufacturing partner is adept at international business, they should already have documentation and processes in place to meet your requirements. Be sure to set clear expectations and ensure this is passed down through the entire workforce. A great way to identify if quality control processes are in place and effective, is by asking to see their rejected products. You can also ask more information about their processes to rework these products here too.

Referencing and proof of existing customers

If the factory you are considering is busy, that is a good sign that they are in demand and have been benefiting from repeat business. This is a great indicator that existing clients are impressed with the quality of production. Bonus points if you can identify branded products and packaging on your factory visit as confirmation of their existing partnerships.

Quality control Standards

It’s best not to leave anything to chance here. Quality control must be at the forefront of your production run. Once products have left a factory and arrived with you, you may find it difficult to achieve any recourse with a manufacturer in China, in addition to this, they will rarely cover additional shipping costs for replacements. The best thing you can do is have feet on the ground in China to monitor quality control inspections regularly.

It’s also important to consider product testing. Independent testing will ensure longevity of your product, and therefore your brand. They may look okay to the human eye, but can you be sure they will withstand the usage they are made for?

Acceptance Quality Limit Reporting (AQL) reporting is usually carried out by a third party in China. AQL is a comprehensive quality report which covers all aspects of production right through to packing. This is not a standard practice in Chinese factories, however by offering this service to our clients we have saved them tens of thousands of pounds in faulty goods and goods being damaged in transit.

While AQL reporting and third party quality control is an additional cost, it often means you can achieve peace of mind from a distance and have more confidence in your investments from the beginning.

I hope you found this useful, if you have any questions, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.