Chinese manufacturing is a practice that U.S. and international businesses have recognized as an essential asset to reducing prices for their products. It’s utilized by some of the most prominent brands and it has become a staple to successful manufacturing. As domestic prices rise, the need for affordable overseas manufacturing grows.

China has answered that call and today, you see the “Made in China” tagline on many custom products including clothing, furniture, and toys. Their manufacturing capabilities have continued to grow since the inception of China manufacturing, and their factories produce private label products worldwide. In 2002, China had over 80 million total employees in the manufacturing sector. By 2009, that number had grown to approximately 100 million. The United States, the next closest, maintained a steady decline in manufacturing employees through this period, with 15 million manufacturing employees by the end of 2009.

China has the lowest labor costs in the entire world for manufacturing employees. At the same time, it has grown an economy responsible for bringing more people out of poverty than any other country. Lower costs of living make China’s low wages manageable for the common manufacturing worker, and their factories are thriving by producing goods for the entire world. Sourcify and other companies help transition businesses to the profitable and successful move of manufacturing in China.

Lower manufacturing costs

The cost differential between manufacturing domestically and manufacturing in China is significant. Domestic manufacturers have higher overhead with steep training costs and high turnover. China’s affordability makes overseas manufacturing ideal for the common business.

Cheaper labor

Outsourcing to China gives you access to that factory’s cheap labor without having to train the employees, provide access to a computer, or endure any of the other hardships of hiring locally. Wages are significantly lower in China and tapping into those savings is as easy as establishing a relationship with a factory.

Higher production capability

China-based factories produce goods for the global economy. They have scaled their manufacturing capabilities well beyond what was ever believed possible. When you outsource to China, you’re working with time-tested factories that have been producing quality products in similar industries as yours for years on end, and in massive supply.

Better expansion and diversification opportunities

Have you wanted to expand your business and offer new product lines or tap into upcoming markets, but didn’t see that being possible through existing wholesalers? Outsourcing to China manufacturers allows you to do this on-the-fly. You can expand and diversify your product offerings, as well as sell your products to international markets much easier.

You can still cut lead times

When you manufacture domestically, you become accustom to an immediate lead time. You’re manufacturing on-site, so there’s no real delay from when you place an order to when you receive it. This results in considerable savings because you can manufacture only the amount of stock that is needed, without over-manufacturing and eating into the budget.

This is often seen as a drawback of outsourcing the manufacturing process to an overseas provider. Your lead times are significantly increased, which means you might have to order more than is needed to account for the delay. However, with China manufacturers there are actually ways to cut lead times and experience quick deliveries of your product, which allows you to carry less stock and spend less.