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How to Outsource Manufacturing with the Help of a Sourcing Agent

Maintaining a steady supply chain is one of the most prevalent challenges in manufacturing today. By coordinating with international manufacturers, it is possible to outsource manufacturing efforts to another country for lower costs, production flexibility, and a higher capability to meet the demands of your customers. There are many benefits to outsourcing manufacturing, so how do you start?

9 Steps to Successfully Outsource Manufacturing of Your Products

1. Identifying a Manufacturer

Choosing a reliable manufacturer overseas is the critical first step in outsourcing. Without the right manufacturing partner, you could experience delays, lesser product quality, cost overruns, and other issues that affect the ability to bring your product to market. It is essential to rely on proven strategies and conduct extensive research to find a suitable manufacturer that meets production requirements.

2. Qualifying a Manufacturer

A manufacturer must satisfy production quality, cost, and punctuality requirements that meet your business needs, as the success of the product is in their hands. Take the time to ensure that the manufacturer has the technical capabilities, capacity, facilities, and equipment to provide your product, as well as discuss the willingness to adjust systems and procedures to meet any unique requirements. Properly vetting an outsourcing partner should assess their stability, quality, and ability to meet specifications and production schedules.

3. Define Objectives & Outline Requirements

Defining your objectives and creating the requirements for future manufacturers is crucial, allowing the opportunity to convey the right information and ask questions to achieve a mutual understanding. Before getting started, define the project and the specific needs of the application. This information will provide a clean and concise structured format for a manufacturer to present their capabilities, costs, and expectations while clarifying your objectives and the scope of production.

4. Design for Manufacturing

Designing for manufacturability, or DFM, develops product designs to streamline manufacturing. Each new project is reviewed for material specifications, dimensions, as well as fit and functionality to achieve high-quality products at a low total cost. After this, the product moves from design and prototype building to the first article of inspection samples and final approvals.

5. Early Development Stages

After the design is finalized and prototypes prove to meet specifications, the early stages of production begin. Requesting samples at this time can be a good way to evaluate the quality of the work before making a large order. This stage requires careful planning and tedious accounting, as startup can be costly, even detrimental, if not well managed or scaled appropriately.

7. Quality Assured Production

Vital to the success of your product, monitoring and managing production is essential for quality. No matter the complexity, production processes have many steps, and quality assurance prevents mistakes or defects in manufactured products. Quality requirements must be met to avoid issues in providing products or services to clients. By assessing the quality management system of outsourced manufacturers, you can ensure product functionality and quality satisfaction.

8. Communication & Project Management

Communication is key in managing the manufacturing processes of your products from overseas. Regular check-ins with your manufacturing partner can allow you to track progress, manage timelines, quickly resolve any issues, and build a strong business relationship foundation. By staying in communication, you can understand the project's challenges and maintain the required quality level.

9. Logistics

Delivery is the critical final step in outsourcing manufacturing. Having mentioned the timeline requirements in the purchase request, products should be shipped to meet your delivery times. However, imports and customs can be challenging to navigate, especially during times of supply chain strain.

Benefits of Choosing a Manufacturing Sourcing Agent

A sourcing agent can be an excellent resource if you have little experience procuring contracted manufacturing. Providing guidance and assistance at every step of the outlined process for outsourcing manufacturing, they can identify and select a supplier, as well as help navigate importing and logistics; even experienced suppliers can benefit from the effective management that outsourcing agents can offer. Some benefits of outsourcing agents include:

Cultural Network & Connections: Overseas sourcing agents know where to work, who to work with, and how to discuss business using their cultural knowledge and language capabilities, saving you time and research.
Quality Control & Assurance: Experienced outsourcing agents will know which manufacturers have a history of supplying high-quality products. As part of the service, Sun Fast personnel conducts factory audits twice a year to ensure the products meet necessary standards for quality.
Enhanced Security & Safety: In our current global landscape, there are scammers everywhere. With a reliable outsourcing manufacturing agent, you reduce the risk of being taken advantage of by dishonorable individuals.
Cost-Effective & Timely: Strategic sourcing can find the best prices for the products you need, and an international manufacturing agent allows you to prioritize time with your business by eliminating the need for travel.
Risk Management: By working with Sun Fast, you are working with an American company that is accountable to the quality standards of your specs and requirements. We also offer reasonable payment terms with ample time for your quality team to inspect the shipment before payment.

A Full-Service Outsourcing Agent for Your Supply Chain Management

Sun Fast is an overseas sourcing agent that simplifies your outsourced manufacturing efforts. We have established good relationships with proven-quality manufacturers in various international markets to provide metal parts, plastic components, and complete assemblies manufactured to your specifications. By working with us, you can access our vetted network, free of any legwork or exhaustive research.

As an ISO 9001:2015 certified operation, our services meet quality assurance requirements that ensure customer satisfaction. We understand the legal requirements behind providing services as a sourcing agent, and our experts can remove the language barrier for effective communication on your project specifications. With 3 locations in the United States, we can provide a stable, steady supply source that makes deliveries “just in time” or just-in-case inventory management without interrupting your processes.

Contact Sun Fast USA to Begin Outsourced Manufacturing Efforts

With over 30 years of experience, Sun Fast is a reliable manufacturing outsourcing agent for commercial and industrial operations. We work with you to find the high-quality metal components, plastic parts, and assemblies you need to meet production requirements for a steady supply chain. By establishing meaningful relationships overseas, we can connect American OEMs with proven, reputable international manufacturers.