Making the auto supply chain transparent

By Russel Beron

Similar to Haier Group, China’s automotive industry has an array of suppliers which require sophisticated systems to manage them. China’s auto market, an ongoing hot topic is becoming more competitive and manufacturers have to look at the entire supply chain to cut costs.

BeijingBenzDaimlerChrysler (BBDC) is a more recent joint auto venture which built a new manufacturing facility in Beijing in early 2007 to build the EClass Mercedes and Chrysler 300C. Recognizing the importance of communication with their suppliers, BBDC implemented a web-based EDI system which is user friendly for all levels of BBDC suppliers. This implementation earned Seeburger the CHaINA award of Best IT Supply Chain Solution for China. Read the rest of “China’s Supply Chain raises the bar: Part IV” or post a comment

You doubtlessly have heard and read many different stories about sourcing in China. Some are thrilling and others are scary. But ultimately, what really matters is to understand enough of the ins and outs of the China sourcing scene in order to answer a few key questions for your company: To Source or Not To Source; To Source What and What Not To Source?

Read the rest of “Ins and Outs of Sourcing in China” or post a comment >>

Learn lessons from some of the leading companies in China

By Russel Beron

Innovation is a word we are hearing a lot more of in China these days. The consensus is that as manufacturing costs in China continue to rise and supply chain complexity increases, so companies have to innovate both to save money and to increase efficiency.

In this story we take a deeper look into what a few companies and individuals in China, both foreign and Chinese are doing to lead the way in service, supplier management, IT implementation, as well as cost and process efficiency. These companies and individuals were all winners of awards at the November 2007 CHaINA Summit.

Advances across the supply chain in China are taking the form of new IT implementations, greater levels of service through 3PL’s, better supplier management, strategic location of operations and an increased focus on domestic R&D and development of local human and other resources. Read the rest of “China’s Supply Chain raises the bar - Part I” or post a comment

By Richard Kaye

The mistake many people make when engaging manufacturers or buying products in China is to think cheap. Lowest cost-lowest price, discount discount discount. There is a much better alternative and one that traders are not currently exploiting.

For example lets take a pair of shoes. Almost 50% of all the shoes sold in the UK originate in China. Now the costs involved in manufacturing a pair of shoes include the cost of materials, ie. leather, the cost of packaging, the cost of the overhead…rent rates electric etc, the cost of labour & management and of course the cost of shipping. However, think of this… the labour aspect of the combined costs is probably less than 10%. Read the rest of “Cheap or value added” or post a comment

Hello,
I know of a Chinese cement manufacturer that’s looking for funding to
replace their old standing kilns with new “dry” rotary kilns that will
increase efficiency and reduce pollution and is as a matter of fact,
mandated by the government.

Would you Read the rest of “Chinese cement manufacturers” or post a comment