Offshore Manufacturing Tips

Rose-Marie Almond, Cobourg, Ontario, CYBF Young Entrepreneur & Mentor

When growing a business, the first things to be outsourced are usually the parts no one wants to deal with; accounting and manufacturing. In recent years, the popularity of offshore manufacturing, to countries where costs are much lower, has grown significantly.

Here are some things to keep in mind when looking to manufacture offshore:

• Communication skills – When choosing a supplier, a key selection criterion should be the relative ease of communication. Even if the prices are higher, being able to negotiate and discuss changes to your requirements more easily will pay off in the long run.

• Sample quality – Due to time scales and methods used, samples received may not be identical to the final product. Bear this in mind before ordering large quantities of stock from a single sample.

• Local culture – Make sure you are well versed in local by-laws, cultures and business practices. Always remember that your suppliers are part of your business image and ensure that they are a good fit with how you want your business perceived by customers.