Expert Supplier Vetting That Protects Your China Sourcing
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Guarantee Your China Supplier Is Credible
It can be hard to guarantee that your choice in a China supplier is credible, and the last thing you want is to make a large volume order with a supplier that is going to overcharge and under-deliver. Kanary are the experts at supplier credibility evaluation, and we can make sure that your chosen supplier is one that you can trust.
Research & Due Diligence
Our sourcing experts conduct deep research on potential factories to evaluate capabilities, reputation, and financial stability. We only recommend partners that meet our strict sourcing criteria.
Compliance & Certifications
We verify that all suppliers possess the necessary industry certifications (e.g., ISO, GMP, FDA registration) and adhere to local and international compliance standards. Documentation is reviewed and shared transparently with clients.
On-site Visits
When needed, we perform in-person factory audits to assess working conditions, equipment, and operational practices. This gives you added assurance of production reliability and ethical compliance.
Kanary's Supplier Vetting Process
Our due diligence research is extensive, providing a clear, transparent view of your chosen supplier. Kanary’s due diligence research includes:
- Where the supplier is located, and what other suppliers in the same area specialize in
- How long they've been in business
- Who the factory produces for
- What markets the supplier has sold in
- Staff size, company structure, and general communication skills
- Production capacity
- How the supplier compares to competitors
- Quality control systems in place
Competitor and Industry Analysis
Kanary will research other competing suppliers to see how they compare to your supplier choice. We make sure that you're getting a fair deal, and if we find a competing supplier that would be better suited for your production needs, we can help you make the switch. Our experts will visit competitor suppliers, in-person, to see how they compare to your supplier choice.
Onsite Factory Visits
Kanary visits the supplier in-person for a thorough inspection. Our experts take pictures and videos for your review, take note of other products currently being made, and visit with a factory stakeholder (usually a head manager or factory owner), which gives us unique insight into their credibility.
Analyzing Supplier's Manufacturing Process
During our onsite visits, Kanary will take a close look at the manufacturing process the supplier uses. We make sure the supplier isn’t cutting corners, is using standard manufacturing processes, has proper quality control procedures in place, and is producing an end-product that is high-quality.
Approving Supplier Credibility
After our extensive research into a supplier, Kanary will either approve supplier credibility, or we will recommend another supplier for you to work with. Reasons we may recommend another supplier can include:
- The supplier is a trade company posing as a factory
- The supplier is too inexperienced for the product you're sourcing
- There are significant quality control problems that the supplier is unable, or unwilling, to address
Supplier Vetting by the Numbers
Verify Your China Supplier's Credibility Today
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As a loose guide, the typical “sweet spot” Kanary client who will benefit the most from our process and scaleable expertise will have annual gross revenue starting at approximately 5 million USD. If your business meets—or is approaching—this threshold, we can help you!
FAQ
How do you verify a China supplier or factory?
There are several ways you can verify a China supplier. The steps that Kanary takes to do so include:
- Verifying documentation, including business licenses and bank account certificates
- Performing Physical examinations of factories
- Interviewing suppliers via phone call and checking references, when applicable
- Supervising a robust sampling process
How do you find a supplier in China?
Finding a supplier in China requires businesses to take time to perform the required due diligence to land on a quality option. If you're new to looking for a China supplier, consider some of these basic steps:
- Spend time collecting a large amount of potential supplier options (for example, Kanary will create a list of 30-50 supplier options that could potentially be a good fit)
- Narrow down selections based on production experience, communication ability, and lead times
- Once the list has been narrowed down to 3-5 options, request samples and schedule a factory tour
- Base your final choice on sample quality, factory conditions, final pricing, and communication ability
What are the biggest issues with having a China supplier?
Many businesses are surprised to hear that outright fraud is extremely rare in China and that there are an enormous number of high-quality suppliers to choose from. The biggest issues are instead:
- Communication: The language barrier can be a huge issue when you have a China supplier. While some suppliers have English support, many excellent suppliers do not. This is why many businesses look to a third party (like Kanary) to help resolve the language barrier.
- Shipping and Fulfillment: If your supplier is in China, you have to figure out how to get products to your business or local fulfillment center. Many ecommerce businesses opt to utilize direct-to-customer China fulfillment, which our preferred fulfillment partner, EcommOps, specializes in.
- Production supervision: Many businesses don't have the resources or expertise to physically be present at the factory to supervise production. This is an important part of quality control, which is why Kanary makes it a priority to physically supervise production at China factories.
How important is it to verify a China supplier before beginning mass production?
It is extremely important to verify a supplier before beginning mass production. Businesses must make sure that:
- They aren't participating in a fraud scheme
- They are working with a real factory and not a trade company
- The factory has a history of producing high-quality products
- The factory has the engineering capacity to make the exact products that are needed