Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Services
We work closely with our clients to source and manufacture products from Asian suppliers to the required specification and within the agreed lead time whilst giving visibility throughout the production cycle. Trust is central to how we operate and we always look to develop deep partnerships with both our clients and suppliers.
Your Asian Sourcing Partner
Over the past 20 years, we have developed a highly defined sourcing process that ensures that we are collaborating with the right suppliers from the right countries so that we can deliver against your needs. We are not simply your China sourcing company, your India sourcing company or even your Vietnam sourcing company; we are your Asian sourcing partner. This means that we will always be looking for opportunities in other Asian markets to ensure that we are aligned to your overall sourcing strategy.
Our Process
1. Assess your needs
Getting on top of the detail is the first thing we do. This means understanding what you are looking for from the suppliers, the product and us! With this done, it is possible to set up a smooth and efficient critical path.
2. Understand the Product
As part of ISO 9001, we always look to clearly document the product specification so that there are no misunderstandings from any party. We look to capture all the product details at this stage.
3. Source
We reach across our qualified supplier base and beyond – making sure that we visit any new factories prior to any production – to find the most suitable partner to manufacture your products. This covers product expertise, market knowledge, capacity, financials and ultimately price points and quality
4. Quotation
We provide you with a quotation taken from at least 3 suppliers to make sure you are getting the best option.
5. Sampling & Development
We will manage the development critical path leading up to PP sample sign off before production starts. This is an important stage and sets up getting the product right for bulk production.
6. Production
We work with the factory to ensure that everything is being moved forward according to plan and provide updates to our clients against the production schedule.
7. Quality Control
As part of our service, we do a range of quality control inspections as appropriate on site – raw material, inline, final inspection and loading inspection – to give our client’s visibility of the products before shipment. This means that you can see the products and decide to ship with confidence.
8. Shipment
We will help book the containers and arrange for the goods to be shipped to port usually on an FOB basis. In some cases, we help with different shipping terms such as CIF, DDU and DDP.
Some useful tips for our Clients
At the outset, it is important that we get as much information during the assessment and specification stages. The more we know, the more we can meet your expectations.
Any costings, target pricing or current supply channels are always going to be useful. We know this may be counter-intuitive to some people, but it just means we can be more focused when we are sourcing factories and obtaining quotations.
There are stages throughout the manufacturing process that require your input and feedback, from signing off a production information sheet, signing a PP sample to approving a QC report. Getting your confirmation helps us move things forward completely aligned.
We are upstream, on site, in your sourcing jurisdictions. This means that wherever you are, you can rest assured we are working on your behalf to deliver against quality, price and delivery times.
Industrial Components
As sourcing and supply chain professionals with backgrounds in engineering and manufacturing, we have a wealth of experience in producing industrial products in Asia. We supply technically challenging, high quality components, and sub-assemblies to clients across Europe, USA and Australasia. Our core competencies include metal fabrication and plastic injection moulded components.
Consumer Goods
With almost twenty years’ experience of designing, developing and manufacturing consumer goods within Asia, we are well placed to help our clients with their sourcing needs. We work with our suppliers on a range of product categories that include Fashion, Indoor, Outdoor and Medical and many others.
With more than 2000 supplier contacts
Across China, Vietnam and India, we are always looking to identify the best partner for your sourcing needs, and hand hold you through the entire Supply Chain Management process.
We also have a shipping and logistics team who are able to assist with shipping, rates and other solutions.
Find the right solution for you
We pride ourselves in how we can find the right solution for you. We are constantly addressing issues throughout the product life cycle, from development through to delivery. These include a range of factors such as quality assurance, factory certifications, product innovation, financial terms, minimum order quantities, supplier capacity, working capital management, product quality inspection protocols, sustainability initiatives, cost analysis and stock holding requirements. We therefore understand the landscape, the context, and are well placed to address any problems or to prevent them in time by identifying potential issues.
Your Asia Sourcing Expert
Our teams are well adept at dealing with companies of all sizes. We know the different touch points of companies throughout their growth cycle and dedicate resource accordingly. We are happy to commit resource and hand hold companies that we see scalability in and guide them through our process and provide the reassurance that a business of that size requires. Similarly, we have a track record of working with companies already generating millions of dollars in turnover but have identified the need to leverage the expertise and experience of a sourcing company such as ET2C.
Read more about Inside Asia Sourcing
Interested in Sourcing & Procurement Services?
Want to know how ET2C can help your business with sourcing & procurement solutions? Speak to us today to request your free quotation.
Case Study: Leveraging Benefits of Asian Sourcing
As a UK OEM of industrial food processing machinery, Baker Perkins needed to increase capacity without increasing capital spend on new machinery and overhead. Working with ET2C gave them an ability to fully leverage the benefits of the Asian manufacturing without repeating past mistakes.