By: Michael Hotchkiss, Director of Sales, SB&W How Supply Chain Professionals Should React to the Latest Developments Even the most mature and well-developed supply chain operations deal with constantly evolving conditions. This is normal and anticipated. Each wrinkle in a supply chain adds to the uncertainty, which is the reason experts exist to cope with all […]
By: Michael Hotchkiss, Director of Sales, SB&W “Hope for the best and plan for the worst.” It’s a simple, oft-used saying and the wisest course of action for most situations. When it comes to China-based performers in a supply chain, putting that adage into action becomes challenging, because the current climate of trade with China makes […]
By: Michael Hotchkiss, Director of Sales, SB&W If you’ve ever gambled in a casino, you know that no matter how lucky you are or how well you play, in the end the house always wins. The house, in this trade war, is …. nobody. This is a global perspective that supports sovereign rights as well as […]
By: Michael Hotchkiss, Director of Sales, SB&W Supply chains for large companies have always been process–driven. Adding structure to shopping/buying is a proven way to increase efficiency and savings; a process that has trickled down into smaller operations. In many cases, however, this method of operation does not result in efficiency or cost savings. Any organization that has a systematic approach to sourcing things critical […]
By: Michael Hotchkiss, Director of Sales, SB&W Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success. –Henry Ford The three keys to success in selling made-to-order things are price, delivery and quality, usually in that order. While those may be the main elements of successful selling, they aren’t the only important ingredients. […]
By: Michael Hotchkiss, Director of Sales, SB&W Why would any American business choose a supply chain partner in China? To do so means dealing with the possibility of additional tariffs on Chinese imports, the risk of intellectual property theft, and the moral dilemma of human rights violations and censorship. Why would any U.S. organization want to […]
As a global manufacturer with modern, China-based manufacturing facilities and more than 25 years of experience manufacturing in China, SB&W is in a unique position to understand the past, present, and future of China manufacturing. In this Q&A, Mike Hotchkiss, SB&W Director of Sales, talks about how China manufacturing has changed over the years, how […]
By: Michael Hotchkiss, Director of Sales, SB&W Working for a company that manufactures goods in China, I have spent the better part of the last three months talking about the Tariff Situation. Tariffs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tariffs in every conference call and face-to-face meeting. Hell, they even come up at backyard parties in […]
By: Michael Hotchkiss, Director of Sales, SB&W Over the past several of years, major and minor shifts in policies and regulations have changed how Chinese businesses can operate. Manufacturers in China have enjoyed a distinct advantage in in lax environmental regulations, low material costs and labor rates giving the freedom to conduct themselves in a […]