由肖恩・ He Yuxun

源頭從中國從一種直接，費用被駕駛的方法演變了更加精心製作和更加戰略的品種。 當最近產品取消沒有似乎衝擊了根據整體圖時的中國出口，然而我們否則遇到了軼事證據建議。

最初的源頭興趣由中國的臭名遠揚的低成本無容置疑地觸發，指揮(例如那些為勞方和土地或者租)和間接(回報在無數政府出口刺激之下，例如給津貼的燃料費用，出口VAT退款、非徵稅和稅收減少)。

多年來鍛煉從靜態，每項目價格被駕駛的做法演變了到更加老練那些。 例如，許多美國買家現在使用垂直或側向地集成方法或者兩個。

在前情景，買家會來源不僅某一部分或他們開始了與最初的組分，他們現在會也來源完成品並且它包裝。 一些也許去就得到產品準備好被擱置，完全與他們在存放價牌。

在後者情景，買家在一個價格敏感市場會不僅來源唯一產品，而且相似或免費產品對形式產品捆綁作為方式勸阻直銷價比較和因而提高他們的競爭性。

先進的方法的另一個形式是增值源頭。 在這種方法，買家也會獲得支持從中國供應商(經常那些以強的能力)這樣增值業務像新產品R&D，設計和prototyping。

In strategic sourcing, a buyer would employ one or more of the following tactics that don’t seem to be directly related to what they are currently doing: 

- Sourcing other non-related products from the same area for logistic concerns 
- Sourcing new products to meet a potential demand upon foreseeing a trend 
- Seeking alternative suppliers as backup to and/or to keep the primary supplier competitive 
- Engaging in sourcing activities just to get a gauge on the marketplace 
- Sourcing to change existing business model. For example, a US military supplier is required to make their products domestically. But they decided to resort to sourcing from China to expand their otherwise rather minor commercial operation. This would enable them to turn their military side of the operation into a temporary ‘loss leader’ and thus better compete and win greater market share in that sector. Eventually they would be able to reap the resulted economy of scale and become profitable again in that operation.

Did the recent massive product recalls in the US hurt Chinese exports?

At the macro level, other than a tarnished ‘Made in China’ label in the media, it seems ‘business as usual’ for Chinese exports, which had enjoyed a 34% growth as of the end of October ‘07.

Bear in mind, however, that much of this growth came from non-consumer products, such as steel.

But at a micro level, however, we have come across anecdotal evidence suggesting the otherwise. For example, from talking to members in our network, we found that some companies are now more eager to locate alternative sources outside China, for example, in India and Vietnam.

One other anecdote involves a US-based manufacturer who suddenly saw a spike in inquiries and orders following the recalls. Incidentally, a recent New York Times story about this year being a wooden toy maker’s best year ever seemed to echo this as well.

Yet another situation involves a leading North America-based personal health product company which encountered much tightened registration requirements in their sample sourcing efforts. Just for comparison: Before the recalls hit the news we had helped them source and launch a major product line with 6 months. But since the fiasco, the import approval process alone has already taken them 4 months and it is still far from getting done…

Shawn He Yuxun, MeetChinaBiz