Tips for finding Chemical suppliers in China
Here are some tips and suggestions to help make the process more smooth and transparent.
1. Do your homework
Before making any time or money commitment, be aware of the chemical suppliers situation as far as possible. This may include a search on the Chinese government's English website, which provides information on licenses, outstanding liens and major title names.
If possible, take the time to track previous customers and ask about their past experiences. Of course, there are some large companies operating in China that have worked with well-known brands for many years, so they have a good reputation for quality and reliability. However, smaller or specialized suppliers may be outside the relatively unknown niche market. No matter what you find out, if you are going to take the next step, it means that you should invest in visiting the factory yourself.
It is also in your best interest to confirm the manufacturer's billing address as soon as possible. In this way, you can ensure that the account is in the same company name (not the personal name). If you decide to continue production, you should also ensure that the name of the manufacturer is clearly stated in all contracts, purchase orders and other financial documents.
2. Visit the factory in person
Once you have arranged a visit, bring your own translator, who works for you and has nothing to do with the factory.
Be prepared to request verification of all document information. This can be in the form of business license and registration, insurance certificate or even ISO Certificate. If your factory looks clean, organized and well-equipped, make sure it's the same factory that makes your product.
3. Verify employee certification
It is important to ask the manufacturer for employee training and certification records. If the factory boasts that it meets ISO standards, it insists on looking at the original documents and ensures that employees really understand their positions and fully follow them.
4. Track the production cycle from raw materials to final products
The quality of raw materials varies greatly in China. No matter what the label is, find out where the material was purchased and try to get the website address or other identifying information. This will help you find the source of the material.
Unfortunately, it's not unheard of to replace materials with inferior materials after a contract is signed, so you have to take this seriously - often check and reconfirm the standards of raw materials and how they are tested. Ask key questions, such as "where do these devices come from?" and "who made them?" "manufacturers should at least have metering equipment to detect metals and plastics. If so, make sure they can demonstrate how to use it. Be sure to ask some key questions, such as "how often and by whom?" and "is there a calibration record?"
It is important to verify which test equipment the manufacturer is using and that it has been properly calibrated. Insist that the quality control staff - not the boss or supervisor - conduct dimensional checks on the product while you watch. You should also ensure that they maintain appropriate records of all measurement and test procedures and results and request that these records be viewed.
5. Establish daily contact
Identify the person you have primary contact with the chemical suppliers. If within your budget, it is in your interest to have your own staff in China, he can contact you and the manufacturer directly.
These hints may seem overly cautious, but the process is quite valuable because you have to carefully observe all the basic assumptions about how manufacturing is done. This is often the biggest source of misunderstanding and confusion, and sometimes the two cultures are very different.
There is a good side to all of this. There are many reputable chemical suppliers in China, who can provide high quality service and competitive price. Famous factories will pay the same attention to detail as you would expect. By doing your due diligence in advance, you can find a reliable partner for many years to come.
