Most sourcing partners hand you a list of "approved" suppliers. We do the opposite: we start with thousands and ruthlessly cut down to three before we ever say a name.
Day 1 — Database filtering
Our internal manufacturer database tracks 150+ vetted factories across electronics, textiles, hardware, and consumer goods. Each one has a profile with:
- Categories served and minimum order quantities
- Lead times for sample and production runs
- Past performance: on-time %, defect rate, response time
- Last audit date and key findings
- Active client engagements (so we know capacity)
We start by filtering this database against your brief. A typical query: "category = wireless audio, MOQ ≤ 1k, lead time ≤ 45 days, defect rate < 2%". That usually gives us 8–15 candidates.
Day 2 — Phone screening
Our sourcing managers in Yiwu call each candidate. The goal isn't to ask the polished questions on their website — it's to ask the awkward ones:
"What's the longest production delay you've had this quarter, and why?" "Can you walk me through what happens when 5% of a batch fails QC?" "Who's your biggest US customer right now?"
Factories that dodge these questions get cut. Usually we lose half the list at this stage.
Day 3 — On-site visits
Our team drives to every remaining factory within 24 hours. We don't announce ourselves. We check:
- Are workers using PPE correctly?
- Is the QC station staffed during normal production?
- Is the inventory of finished goods well-organized or chaotic?
- Does the factory floor smell of fumes, suggesting compliance gaps?
We take 50–80 photos per visit and produce a one-page assessment.
Day 4 — Sample requests
Survivors get a sample order — usually 5–10 units of your exact spec. We pay for this; you don't. Samples ship to our office in Yiwu where we:
- Photograph each unit from multiple angles
- Test fit, finish, function against your spec sheet
- Document any deviation, even cosmetic
Day 5 — The shortlist
You get a one-page report with three options ranked by fit, plus a "why we cut the others" appendix so you can see the trade-offs.
By the time you make a decision, we've already removed 96% of the noise.
That's why first-time clients tell us they spent six months trying to find a factory before — and we hand them a viable shortlist in a week.
