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China Manufacturing DecodedAuthor: Sofeast
Join Renaud Anjoran, Founder & CEO of Sofeast, in this podcast aimed at importers who develop their own products as he discusses the hottest topics and shares actionable tips for manufacturing in China & Asia today!WHO IS RENAUD?Renaud is a French ISO 9001 & 14001 certified lead auditor, ASQ certified Quality Engineer and Quality Manager who has been working in the Chinese manufacturing industry since 2005. He is the founder of the Sofeast group that has over 200 staff globally and offers services (QA, product development & engineering, project management, Supply Chain Management, product compliance, reliability testing), contract manufacturing, and 3PL fulfillment for importers and businesses who develop their own products and buyers from China & SE Asia.WHY LISTEN?Well discuss interesting topics for anyone who develops and sources their products from Asian suppliers and will share Renauds decades of manufacturing experience, as well as inviting guests from the industry to get a different viewpoint. Our goal is to help you get better results and end up with suppliers and products that exceed your expectations! Language: en Genres: Business, Education, How To Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Gold: Manufacturing Contracts in China. Protect IP, Tooling & Timelines (Ep. 21 revisited)
Episode 342
Thursday, 20 August, 2026
What should a manufacturing contract with a Chinese supplier actually cover, and how can it help protect your product, intellectual property, tooling, quality, and supply chain? In this CMD Gold episode of China Manufacturing Decoded, Adrian and Renaud revisit a practical discussion about the agreements importers and product developers should consider when working with manufacturers in China. They explain why the real value of a good supplier agreement starts long before a dispute occurs: it forces both sides to put expectations in writing and agree on what happens if something goes wrong. Topics include: Why some importers still work with Chinese suppliers without proper contracts The practical benefits of putting supplier expectations in writing What an NNN agreement covers: non-disclosure, non-use, and non-circumvention Who should own the product IP, design files, and tooling What a Manufacturing Agreement should cover Controlling subcontracting and defining the approved manufacturing location ...and more The key takeaway is simple: a manufacturing contract is not only something to rely on when a supplier relationship breaks down. Its greatest value may be preventing ambiguity and disputes in the first place. Important note: This conversation originally aired in 2020 and is being revisited as part of our CMD Gold series. Chinese law has evolved since the original recording, so this episode provides practical manufacturing guidance rather than current legal advice. Sofeast are not lawyers. Any agreement you intend to rely on should be reviewed by appropriate legal counsel familiar with current Chinese law and your specific circumstances. Show Sections 00:00 – CMD Gold introduction 01:29 – Why do buyers work with Chinese suppliers without contracts? 03:16 – Why overseas buyers can underestimate supplier risk 05:52 – What does a manufacturing contract actually do for you? 10:13 – Other agreements new-product buyers should consider 12:46 – Product development agreements and IP ownership 16:27 – What is an NNN agreement? 17:33 – What should a manufacturing agreement cover? 23:09 – When NNN and development agreements may not be necessary 24:45 – Subcontracting, factory access and inspection rights 25:47 – Manufacturing defects vs design defects 28:22 – Field failures, termination and how detailed the contract should be 31:30 – Why supplier agreements shouldn't live in WeChat and email 33:23 – CMD Gold 2026 takeaways Related content How To Create A Valid Manufacturing Contract In China To Protect Your IP IP Protection in China When Developing a New Product Plastic Injection Mold Tooling Management & Risk Reduction Mold Tooling Ownership: The Shocking Term Chinese Suppliers Push For! 8 Ways to Prevent Chinese Suppliers from Subcontracting Agilian's IP Protection Transfer Manufacturing to a New Chinese Factory With Fewer Risks Get in touch with Sofeast Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
