DFM: How a Chinese Factory Changes Your Design — and Which Changes to Accept
Every Chinese factory sends design revisions before tooling. Which make the product manufacturable, which quietly cheapen it, and how to tell them apart.
The Pilot Run Before Mass Production: Why It Costs Less Than Skipping It
A pilot run is 5–10% of your order made under real conditions. What it catches that no sample can, what it costs, and how to write it into the contract.
Sample Types Explained: Prototype, Pre-Production Sample and the Golden Sample
Counter sample, prototype, tooling sample, PP sample, golden sample — what each one proves, and why approving the wrong one costs you a container.
The Technical Spec Sheet for a Chinese Factory: How to Write One That Cannot Be Misread
A factory manufactures your document, not your intention. What a production spec must contain: materials by grade, tolerances, tests, packaging, acceptance.
Tooling and Moulds in China: What They Cost and Who Actually Owns Them
What an injection mould or stamping die really costs in China, what drives the price, how long tooling lasts — and who legally owns the mould you paid for.
From Idea to First Batch: How Manufacturing a Product in China Actually Works
From spec sheet to container: the eight stages of making a product in China, what each stage costs, how long it takes and which ones importers skip.
Why a Sourcing Agent Beats Buying on Alibaba Yourself
"I'll buy on Alibaba myself and save the fee" — the maths often runs the other way. Where the DIY importer loses on price, defects and logistics.
How We Verify Factories in China: The Silk Way Sourcing Verification Protocol
Supplier verification is not an Alibaba rating. Our protocol: business licence checks, the factory visit before the balance, sample and batch control.
Certificate of Origin for China Goods: Types, Why It Matters and Customs Preferences
A certificate of origin drives your duty rate, anti-dumping measures and preference access. The forms, who issues them, and why a Chinese CO is not a discount.
Customs Broker for China Imports: Why You Need One and How to Choose
A broker saves you thousands on the right HS code and a clean customs pass. What the service includes, what you pay for and the questions to ask before hiring.
Packing List for China Imports: What It Is and What It Must Contain
The packing list is the map of your shipment: how many packages, what weight and volume, what is in which box — and which errors get stuck at customs.
Warranty, Spare Parts and Service for Chinese Equipment: What to Put in the Contract
"One-year warranty" with no detail is an empty line. What the warranty must cover, how to secure parts for 5–10 years and how to hold service with leverage.