The Struggle for Quality

1/5/2010 - A quality product takes time and teamwork to develop, no matter where it gets made. What else does it take when the team and environment spans cultures? This series is sponsored by InTouch Quality Manufacturing Services.
This content series includes interviews with:

Steve Schnell, employee Number 1 at GM China, who says "find someone good and make them better.";
Paul Stepanek, supervising manufacturing in China for decades, and Founder of USActive, wants to remind us how long it takes to get a solid supply chain going;
China Bridge International design consultant Cathy Huang (video courtesy of Plastics News) talks about the eco-content that is becoming increasingly important for Made in China products;
And Andrew Reich, Founder of InTouch Quality Manufacturing Services, who sponsored this series, thinks Chinese manufacturers are developing much greater awareness of what quality means.

TCBN's book review for Poorly Made in China: An Insider's Account of the Tactics Behind China's Production Game andWhere East Eats West: The Street Smarts Guide to Business in China is included here as well. Poorly Made author Midler paints the Chinese as ethically incapable of many things, including making a quality product. Where East Eats West author Goodman - keynote speaker for our China Business Boot Camp Philadelphia - deals directly with the question of westerner's attitudes - and prescribes a reality check on objectives, an investment in our risk management skills, and a sense of adventure.

	Sustainable Design Becoming Part of China's Future Cathy Huang \| Plastics News 1/6/2010 - Shanghai-based Cathy Huang, founder of China Bridge International, conducted research about the design industry in China. Sustainable design is getting attention all over the world, including in China. Shanghai especially is putting focus on the advancement and future of superior-quality design. Interview provided by Plastics News. Read More...

	GM China's First Employee - from China market as GM's dream, to the USA market as a Chinese dream. Time Flies. Interview with Steve Schnell 1/4/2010 - As GM's first employee in China, Steve Schnell knows about China's automotive industry. Currently Vice President and General Manager at AutoPartSource, Steve has held many positions along the chain of vehicle production throughout his tenure in China. Read More...

	Building a China Supply Chain: A Process, not An Event Interview with Paul Stepanek 1/1/2010 - With over 20 years of experience in sourcing and manufacturing in China, Paul Stepanek is the found of USActive, providing due diligence and consulting for companies implementing their China initiatives. Twenty years has seen the opening of Chinese businesses, but Paul's challenge still lies in westerners building strong relationships with Chinese suppliers. Read More...

	4 Words on QC: Awareness Good, Ambiguity Bad Interview with Andrew Reich 12/30/2009 - As founder and General Manager of InTouch Quality Manufacturing, Andrew Reich is on the ground in China. Based in Shenzhen, he ensures his clients' China-manufactured purchases are first-class for each shipment through inspection, testing and product certification. Read More...

	Winning, Losing, and the Plight of the Foreigner in China by Janet Carmosky 10/19/2009 - Looking for a China business book? TCBN's CEO and Editor-in-Chief Janet Carmosky has two to recommend, both easy reads, and both detailing the danger of naivete. One is Paul Midler's Poorly Made in China; the other is Where East Eats West by Sam Goodman. They belong at opposite ends of the bookcase. Read More...

Many thanks to our series sponsor: