China sourcing agent for a second supplier or a factory change
Cambridge China Bridge qualifies a second Chinese factory against your approved sample and specification, or manages the factory you already use, with our own staff in China doing the audits and the inspections.
What's included
- Shortlist and audit candidate factories against your approved specification and sample.
- Coordinate candidate samples and a pilot order before moving volume.
- Agree inspection scope and report issuer; you approve shipment release.
Price
Quoted to the agreed scope, with our service fee in the goods price or shown separately in an itemised quote; no kickbacks from factories. Audits and inspections are usually included in an order quote; third-party checks are extra, agreed first.
What you receive
Candidate samples for comparison, factory-audit findings and the agreed inspection evidence before shipment release. Volume moves once the pilot passes.
These labelled sample reports show the format of separately agreed audits and inspections; this service does not automatically include both checks.
See what our reports look like: sample factory audit · sample inspection report
We reply the same working day to confirm receipt and arrange next steps.
What you get
- A second supplier qualified against your approved sample and specification, so you compare before you move any volume.
- Factory audits by our own staff: identity, ownership, production capability, capacity and any subcontracted processes.
- Inspection before every shipment, by our staff in China or by an independent inspection company when you require one.
- The report issuer and inspection scope are agreed in advance; you approve shipment release.
- On a direct import you know the factory from the start; an itemised quote shows the factory price and our service fee separately.
How a UK EV charging operator cut unit cost by 70% with a new factory →
How it works
- Send the approved specification, samples or drawings, your volumes and what is going wrong today.
- We shortlist factories and audit them against your specification.
- Candidate samples are made and checked against your approved sample.
- A pilot order runs with inspection before shipment.
- Volume moves once the pilot passes; inspections continue on every shipment.
How we check factories and goods, and the proof
Every check follows our published CCB Verification Standard v2.0. Factory visits are made by our own staff in the Pearl River and Yangtze River deltas; if an inspection company is appointed for you, the report names it.
- Factory audit: From £395 a visit (one day on site), plus VAT; the final price depends on location and scope and is confirmed before we start. Written report usually within 48 hours of the visit. Sample factory audit report
- Pre-shipment inspection: From £275 per inspector-day (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu), plus VAT; the final price depends on location, product and scope and is confirmed before we start. Photo report usually within 24 hours of the inspection. Sample pre-shipment inspection report
Default inspection sampling: zero critical defects, AQL 2.5 major and AQL 4.0 minor (ISO 2859-1, general level II), inspected once at least 80% of the goods are packed.
Real project: for a UK electric-vehicle charging operator we ran inspection and factory communication. A Jiangsu candidate did not meet the requirements; after reviewing a third-party check we chose a Zhejiang factory, which now ships about three pallets a month. Read the case
We are not an accredited inspection body and issue no certificates; laboratory tests and social audits go to accredited firms, and you receive their reports.
Cambridge China Bridge in brief
- Buying from Chinese factories since 2021 (the company was incorporated in September 2022), for our own businesses and for clients on the same terms.
- Our own staff are based in China, at two bases: the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan) and the Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu). They visit factories themselves.
- Quotes to suit how you buy: one delivered price, or an itemised quote with the factory cost, freight, duty and our service fee shown separately. Open-book detail is available on request.
- Audits and inspections are usually included in the quote for an order placed with us; complex checks that need a third party are charged extra, agreed first.
- Orders run from a first trial to scheduled full containers; the factory’s own minimum is stated in the quote.
- In one project, a UK EV charging operator cut unit cost by 70% and scaled 3× faster. In another, a multi-site Cambridge café chain saved 50% on packaging.
- A UK company in Cambridge and London: Cambridge China Bridge is the trading name of Piggy Pineapple Ltd, company number 14385590.
- Send 1–3 products you buy now and what you pay. We compare the same specification, quantity, inspection and delivery scope to establish a cost benchmark.
- A reference call with a past client can be arranged, with that client’s agreement.
How we charge
Quotes to suit how you buy: one delivered price, or an itemised quote with the factory cost, freight, duty and our service fee shown separately. Open-book detail is available on request.
We charge a service fee, included in the quoted price or shown separately in an itemised quote, and agreed before you order. We take no kickbacks or commission from factories. The service fee depends on the agreed scope, including products, samples, inspections and ongoing supply.
Questions buyers ask
Do I have to leave my current supplier?
No. A second-source trial lets you compare a new factory with the current one before any volume moves. We can also manage the factory you already use.
Can an independent inspection company check the goods?
Yes. Inspections are carried out by our own staff in China or, when you require it, by an independent inspection company. The report issuer, sampling plan and scope are agreed before production.
Who approves shipment?
You review the agreed inspection evidence and approve shipment release.