Questions we get asked

There are a lot of unknowns when manufacturing or sourcing in China and Vietnam. You need to have presence in the place where manufacturing is carried out. Even if you feel that you can trust a supplier, there will still be issues that need to be dealt with. Language barriers, cultural differences, and different time zones will make the process sluggish and time-consuming. It is inefficient to handle these issues over Skype or by email.Usually, you need to be on the factory floor to handle issues that crop up during the production process. A good sourcing agent will work in your best interests, manage issues during all stages of production, conduct quality control inspections, handle paperwork for shipping and so on.

We specialize in mid-complex components and products made from metals and plastics. We also do wire harnesses and other electrical components. We do not specialize in automotive or aviation components, food and beverage, textiles, and products for children.

It depends on tooling that needs to be made. It is common to have 60 days for tooling and 30 days for sample production, but it really depends on the complexity of the product and manufacturing method.

Work with a good sourcing agent and route your payments through them. The usual terms of payment when starting something new is 20% deposit before production starts, and 80% balance payment before the product ships from the supplier.

Ideally, 3D files along with material specifications and estimated quantities will be very helpful. The more we know about your product (critical dimensions, special requirements, knowledge issues and so on) the more accurate the quote will be.

Suppliers are usually willing to sign such agreements. It is unusual for a supplier to copy your products, especially if they only make one component of a larger product. It is more common for new products on the market to get reverse engineered by someone who simply buys a few and makes their own version.Unfortunately, this is between borderline and impossible to avoid. You need to ask yourself what happens if your product gets copied? Will it compete in your own market? Will your customers abandon you and go with the knock-off?

It is usually pretty quick if it is within our areas of expertise. We may already have a suitable manufacturer within our network already. If not, it can take 30 days to find and evaluate one.

Yes. Although costs of manufacturing in China & Vietnam have increased over the years, it has also increased in the western world. Globally, raw material costs are usually similar, but labor costs are still competitive in China and even more competitive in Vietnam.

Yes

We handle everything – from finding suitable suppliers, managing tooling, organizing samples, setting up production, quality control and shipping. All of this is included in our quoted price. Over and above that, you pay for products you order and the tooling you own. That’s it.

Yes. Most high-end products – ranging from smartphones to vehicles – are now made in China. Keep in mind, however, that you get what you pay for.

Sticking with the same manufacturing partner ensures consistent quality, supply chain stability, and cost efficiency as you scale. By maintaining a long-term partnership you eliminate the risks of switching suppliers, ensuring faster improvements, seamless scaling, and reliable production for future product versions and expansions.

We work together with you to analyze customer feedback, product performance, and market trends to identify opportunities for improvement. This can include:

• Material or design upgrades to improve durability and reduce costs.
• New colors, finishes, or feature variations to expand your product line.
• Production refinements to shorten lead times and increase efficiency.

We help you scale efficiently by leveraging your existing supply chain and production network, making it easier and faster to introduce new variations or complementary products. We assist with:

• Sourcing and manufacturing new product lines or accessories.
• Optimizing designs for cost-effective, scalable production.
• Streamlining logistics and inventory for smooth fulfillment.

We proactively monitor production capacity, supplier availability, and logistics to ensure you can scale without delays. Our approach includes:

• Higher production volumes without sacrificing quality.
• Optimizing inventory management and warehousing to meet fluctuating demand.
• Shipping optimization for global distribution.

We ensure your supply chain stays efficient and ready to support your growth.

We maintain strict quality control processes throughout production, including:

• Ongoing quality audits and inspections at key stages.
• Process refinements to improve consistency across production runs.
• Supply chain adjustments to ensure stable material sourcing.

Your feedback remains essential in defining and refining quality standards as we scale.

Yes! We help you navigate compliance requirements to ensure your product meets CE, UL, RoHS, and other global standards before entering new markets. We also collaborate with trusted testing labs to secure necessary certifications.

We offer flexible production solutions to accommodate rapid changes, including:

• Quick-turn manufacturing for small-batch testing of new features.
• Fast-track production for urgent product updates.
• Real-time supply chain adjustments to adapt to unexpected demand shifts.

Contract manufacturing typically means producing specific components or finished goods at an agreed factory, with the client still managing parts of the process. Turnkey manufacturing goes further — the partner manages everything from raw material sourcing through to final assembly, packaging, and delivery. Sourcing Allies operates as a turnkey partner: we handle every step, including logistics, so your product arrives ready to sell.

We maintain strict quality control through pre-production sampling, in-process inspections, and final checks to ensure every component meets specifications before shipping.

Yes, we manage global shipping, inventory storage, and logistics to ensure your products are delivered on time and cost-efficiently.

Yes! We offer flexible small-scale production solutions, including quick-turn manufacturing and fast-track production – perfect for early-stage development, pilot runs, and limited batches.

We work with industries requiring precision manufacturing, including electronics, automotive, industrial components, and consumer goods.

Sustainable sourcing is the process of taking environmental and social costs and ethical factors into consideration along with traditional parameters like financial factors while procuring assets, supplies or services for your business needs. The objective is to reduce the negative impact of sourcing on the environment and society.

Sustainable sourcing is complex. However, we will walk you through it. You need to provide us with inputs in terms of what your top priorities and goals are with regard to your supplier’s performance, say, on emissions, water and energy consumption and waste generation and disposal. We will also need product specifications and other technical information.After that, we review the information and start looking for suppliers who can manufacture your products according to all your requirements. We do factory audits to ensure that your supplier’s environmental performance is acceptable to you. We also suggest alternative materials (such as recycled raw materials) and manufacturing methods to improve manufacturing efficiency and lessen the environmental impact of production.We will also advise you on greener options for packaging as well as how to ship your goods so that your carbon footprint is kept to a minimum.

You need to provide us with inputs, stay creative, and make the most of the collaboration with us. This is a joint effort. Beyond that, you can simply enjoy the ride. We will guide you through it.

Sustainable sourcing can be quite cost-effective since a large part of it is about reducing waste and increasing production efficiencies, so you might end up with lowered costs because of that.As China sourcing agents, we do not charge any extra fees for working with clients who want to source sustainably.

Yes. Sustainable sourcing is in our best interests as is it in yours. We work transparently and will happily bring in third party services when needed to ensure that any solution and setup we put in place meets your sustainability ambitions.

Yes. Even though manufacturing and shipping itself cannot generate a carbon neutral or carbon positive footprint as of now, you can offset it by donating or investing in certified initiatives that remove an equal or greater amount of carbon from the atmosphere. For that, you need to first assess your carbon footprint and then work towards offsetting it to achieve a carbon neutral or carbon positive footprint.

Pre-production samples or PPS allow you to test and refine your design before committing to full-scale production. They help validate functionality, quality, and manufacturability, ensuring your product meets expectations while minimizing costly risks.

Each validation phase ensures your product is production-ready:

✅ EVT (Engineering Validation Testing): Tests early prototypes for technical feasibility and identifies potential design flaws.

✅ DVT (Design Validation Testing): Ensures form, fit, and function while verifying compliance with market regulations.

✅ PVT (Production Validation Testing): Produces a small batch under full production conditions to confirm quality and scalability.

Pre-production samples or PPS help identify potential issues early, allowing us to refine the design, adjust materials, and optimize manufacturing methods. This ensures your product aligns with its intended functionality, price, and quality standards before scaling production.

We match your product with trusted suppliers specializing in small-scale metal fabrication, small-scale plastic manufacturing, and custom component production. We thoroughly vet factories based on their capabilities, reliability, and compliance with standards.

We tailor the validation process to fit your timeline. If needed, we streamline sampling and testing to fast-track make-to-market production, ensuring your product is manufactured and delivered as quickly as possible. Learn more about our fast-track program here. 

Once your PPS meets design, quality, and pricing expectations, we move into full-scale production and assembly, ensuring a seamless transition with strict quality control at every stage.

We analyze your product’s requirements, factoring in cost, production speed, manufacturability, and long-term scalability. Off-the-shelf components help reduce costs and lead times, while custom manufacturing ensures the perfect fit for performance and quality. We guide you toward the optimal balance for your product.

Selecting the right production setup early helps you avoid costly design changes, delays, and supply chain disruptions down the line. An optimized component mix ensures seamless scaling, a stable supply, and cost efficiency – especially when transitioning from prototyping to full-scale production.

We work with a vetted network of manufacturers specializing in metal fabrication, plastic injection molding, die casting, and much more. We match your product with the right supplier based on quality, reliability, and compliance, ensuring uninterrupted production.

Most products do. We help you strike the right balance between cost and performance by integrating off-the-shelf components where possible while custom-manufacturing parts that require specific tolerances, materials, or functions. Our goal is to optimize quality, cost, and lead time to meet your unique production needs.

We conduct an engineering review to optimize materials, finishes, and production methods before moving to full-scale production. Pre-production sampling allows us to validate quality and manufacturability, ensuring that every component meets specifications and performs as intended before ramping up production.

Yes. When custom components require it, we manage the design and production of tooling, molds, dies, and fixtures tailored to your manufacturing needs. We ensure they are built for efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness from the start.

We adapt our sourcing and validation processes to meet tight deadlines. When speed is critical, we fast-track supplier selection, minimize sampling rounds, and streamline logistics – all while maintaining strict quality control.

Yes. We take complete responsibility for ensuring the right components arrive at the right place at the right time. From coordinating with multiple suppliers to overseeing final assembly and shipping, we manage every detail to keep production running smoothly.

Yes! Our fast-track system prioritizes efficiency through our extensive supplier network and optimized processes. However, factors such as product complexity, material availability, and holidays can impact lead times.

No problem! We source the best suppliers for your product needs.

Yes, we deliver a turnkey manufacturing solution – assembly, packaging, and shipping included.

Planning is key. We work with you to create a realistic timeline that accounts for sampling, production, and shipping lead times. Every project receives our full attention, and we don’t rest until the job is done.

Yes, and for larger projects, we insist on it. We negotiate terms and conditions with you and collaborate with your legal team to develop an agreement covering intellectual property, quality, liability, and pricing. You can sign with our parent company in Sweden or one of our fully owned entities in the US or China.

We always provide you with a list of key manufacturers (including contact information) involved in making your products. We encourage you to visit anytime – your insights are invaluable on the factory floor. However, we want you to visit on your terms. In the meantime, we handle all day-to-day communication and coordination with suppliers.

We’ve been in business since 2006, and we take financial security seriously. You will sign a legal agreement with our legal counterpart in Sweden, the US, or China. We only work with reputable banks and wire transfer partners, ensuring full transparency and traceability. Additionally, financial services such as Letters of Credit can be used for added security.

We can manage shipping for you. Our experienced supply chain team and logistics partners handle freight, imports (customs clearance, etc.), and delivery to warehouses – or even directly to your customers’ doorstep. If you have your own supply chain, we’ll ensure your goods are properly packed for ocean or air freight and coordinate pick-ups by couriers or shipments to port.