Sourcing Channels

Many international buyers believe that long-term cooperation with the same supplier will naturally lead to lower procurement costs over time. In reality, we often see the opposite: sourcing costs remain flat or gradually increase, even when the market becomes more competitive. So why does this happen?

In today’s dynamic global supply chain, a China sourcing agent plays a far greater role than simple price negotiation. At Viotech Sourcing, we go beyond the basics — helping our clients build stronger supplier relationships, plan efficient factory visits, and gain valuable insights into suppliers’ future expansion plans.

As part of supplier qualification and risk management, a two-stage audit was conducted for Zhejiang Aoer Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd., a motor manufacturer based in Shengzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The purpose was to assess Aoer’s capabilities, compliance, and readiness to fulfill a 1/2HP motor order for export to North America.

The consulting company I worked before introduced this US client into China market and found a local Chinese manufacturing partner to start OEM mode at the end of last century. But at the beginning the cooperation was very bumpy and the client become uneasy about the big variation in product quality which brought in risk to its 150+ year old brand. The client needed someone to watch over the production and quality of the products made at the Chinese factory. Here I came in as an independent auditor on the client’s behalf in the early 21 century.

When expanding your business to China, finding the right supplier can be a complex and time-consuming process.

As a trusted sourcing agent in China, we specialize in helping global companies — particularly from the U.S. and Europe — find reliable OEM suppliers in China. In this article, we’re sharing a real-life story about one of our longest-standing supplier relationships: a partnership spanning over 10 years with TIANJIN SOCCER SPORTING GOODS FACTORY.

A US food packaging company had a production expansion plan scheduled be realized in 2025. The company needed to add in many types of equipment and among them were large dryers and humidifiers, the combo. Our task was to verify and audit the Chinese manufacturer that was contracted by a trading company that the client found at Alibaba.com. The other optional source was a Malaysian manufacturer. Our finding from the audit and the pricing of the trading company made the buyer give its final choice to the Chinese factory.

At Viotech, we’re proud to support our clients throughout every step of their sourcing journey. Recently, we helped a U.S. company successfully source and ship their first bulk order of PU foam—a total of three 40GP containers—from China.

A U.S. power plant in California needed a massive custom boiler from a Chinese manufacturer—a shipment so large it required 13 containers. Designed for a unique application and assembled by a U.S. engineering company, the boiler was critical for plant operations. However, when the buyer received contradictory shipping dates from the supplier, confusion set in. One week it was ready in September, the next, the new ship date was December.

In the global manufacturing landscape, cost reduction and quality assurance are two constant priorities. But finding reliable suppliers in China—especially for specialized products like carbon fiber parts—can be overwhelming. For one of our industrial clients, the answer didn’t lie in casting a wide net. Instead, it came from a sharper question:

In 2023, we were helping one of my clients to find a rubber flooring supplier in China, I contact many suppliers and Mr.Li is one of them.