Cambridge China Bridge
Guides

Suppliers & quality (Page 2)

A worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantFactory audit vs inspection reports: what each provesCompare factory audits, first articles, production checks, pre-shipment inspection and loading checks by purpose, report evidence and limits.5 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantIs the Canton Fair worth going to?Choose the right Canton Fair phase, calculate whether the trip pays, and leave with comparable quotes rather than a bag of business cards.5 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantA supplier registered your brand in China: what nowOpposition, invalidation, non-use cancellation and the prior-use defence, with the deadlines each one runs on, from the Trademark Law itself.7 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantWhat an Alibaba Verified Supplier badge verifiesAlibaba's own documentation describes a paid membership tier with an on-site audit by SGS or TUV Rheinland. Here is what that covers and what it cannot.7 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantQualifying a second supplier in China: UK buyersQualify a second Chinese factory against your incumbent's specification, pilot and approval gates without moving production away from China.6 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantHow to verify a Chinese factory's equipmentA sales office will say yes to almost anything. Four checks turn a claim into a fact, and the useful one is asking what the machine cannot do.7 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantHow to brief a sourcing agent and spot a scraperThe test is not price or reviews. It is whether they will answer a closed question about a factory they claim to have found, and say who told them.8 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantGoods from China arrived faulty: what can you do?What UK law lets a business buyer do about faulty goods, how to get the duty back on a rejected shipment, and why who you bought from decides it.11 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantDo I need UK REACH registration for imported goods?Most buyers import finished goods, not chemicals — so when does UK REACH actually bite? The one-tonne rule, the deferred deadlines, and what to ask suppliers.4 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantImporting kitchenware from China: lab reports neededNylon and melamine kitchenware from China needs a declaration and a laboratory report before it can be imported. What is tested, and the limits that matter.4 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantToy safety for UK importers: EN 71 and liabilityImport toys and you carry the manufacturer's responsibility in the UK. The standards that apply, the documents you must hold, and how to check them.7 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantWEEE rules when importing electricals to the UKImport any electrical or electronic equipment and you are a producer under WEEE. There is no minimum, and 5 tonnes changes how you comply.4 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantPSTI: importing smart and connectable products into the UKPSTI for importers: any product that connects to the internet or another device needs a statement of compliance before sale. What to hold and what to ask.3 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantDe-risking your China supply chain: a practical UK guideA plain-English way for UK SMEs to spot where their China supply chain is fragile, and the practical steps that reduce the risk.5 min readA worker in a hi-vis vest and hard hat inspecting machinery in a plantChina Plus One: a UK importer's guide to a second supplierWhy UK SMEs are adding a second source alongside China, and how to do it without disrupting the supplier that already works for you.6 min readA Mind the Gap sign painted on a station platform edgeHow to avoid China sourcing scamsMost sourcing fraud follows a few predictable patterns. Learn the red flags and the simple habits that keep your money safe.6 min readSomeone browsing an online marketplace on a laptopHow to use Alibaba and B2B platforms safelyUsing Alibaba safely: it is a directory, not a quality system. Verify the company, specify in numbers, pay in stages and inspect before shipping.7 min readA close-up of someone signing a contract with a fountain penProtecting your IP and tooling when sourcingPractical steps to reduce the risk of your design, brand or moulds being copied when you manufacture in China.5 min readSomeone in a suit signing a document on a clipboardDo products from China need UKCA, CE or ISO?What these marks mean, the current UK position on CE vs UKCA, and how to check a factory's certificates are genuine.6 min readA gloved hand holding a laboratory sample trayQuality inspection explainedTurn China pre-shipment inspection into a clear release decision: define defects, read AQL results and separate batch checks from UK safety compliance.4 min readA person walking between tall empty racking in a warehouse aisleFactory audit: what to check before you orderA practical checklist for vetting a Chinese factory — from the business licence to the production line — before money changes hands.5 min readClose-up of the corrugated metal cladding of an industrial buildingHow to tell a real factory from a trading companyFactory or trading company? Check the Chinese business licence scope on the official register, then ask for a live video walk of the production line.6 min read

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