Writing a manual for ‘Business in China’
What should be included in the manual on doing Business in China? I am writing a manual for our company’s sourcing division.
If you want a comprehensive list of items to be covered, then you may find the table of contents from The Essential Reference Guide To China Sourcing of interest.
Dedications
Author’s Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction to Book
What the reader can expect to gain & Why I decided to write this book
How the book is organized
Assumptions about the reader & terminology
What this book isn’t
Disclaimer
Keeping Current
Preface by Global Sources COO Peter Zapf
I. China Sourcing Overview
Brief History of China Sourcing
Looking Forward
II. Managing Expectations
Language & Culture
Business Culture
How Buying back home differs from Buying in China
III. Step One: Sourcing Feasibility
Is your product a good match for China sourcing?
Confirming Availability
Door-to-Door Cost Modeling
IV. Step Two: Finding the right supplier
Geographic overview
Types of Suppliers
Foreign Trade Rights
Avoiding Middlemen- what most China sourcing agents, trading companies and brokers don’t want you to know!
V. Step Three: Organizing an efficient Request for Quotation (RFQ)
Defining the ideal type of supplier for your particular project
Engaging potential suppliers
Evaluating Quotations
Picking a winner
Options if you need help picking a winner
VI. Step Four: Face to Face
Negotiation Tips
“Socializing with your Chinese Supplier in China”
VII. Step Five: Placing the PO (purchase order)
The Illusion of Communication
Setting the road map to success in the form of a well written PO package
VIII. Step Six: Vendor Management/ Order Fulfillment & Project management tools
IX: Intellectual Property Protection
X: Quality Control (QC)
Why so many QC problems in China?
Understanding QC Basics
Buyer’s Quality Assurance Tool Box
XI. Addition Templates and Check Lists
Email Protocol
Document Revision Management
International Travel Check List
Local Travel Check List
Petty Cash
Effective Conference Calls
Handling Business Cards
Taxi Cabs
Factory Visit Logistics
Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
XII. What to do when things go wrong
XIII. 3rd Party Support
Quality Assurance Specialists (3PQC)
Testing Labs
Freight Forwarders (3PL)
Sourcing/Purchasing Agents
Engineering
Tool & Die Shops/ Tooling Stewards
Business Intelligence, Surveillance and Investigations
Lawyers
Business Formation
On-Line Resources
XIV. Conclusion
Appendix One: Short Articles of Interest
1. What is VAT and why should I worry about it? By Mike Bellamy
2. Global Sources’ Interview with Mike Bellamy about Audits and Inspections
3. Paul Hornikx’s interview with Mike Bellamy about options for 3rd Party Engineering