Trade & Supply Chain
Sourcing
China sourcing should begin with a controlled business requirement and a decision model, not a list of supplier quotations. Product, volume, quality, timing, intellectual property, total cost and continuity expectations need to be clear before the market is approached.
Converting Business Demand into a Sourcing Decision
01
Write the sourcing requirement
Define the product or service, forecast, technical standard, quality expectations, delivery profile and commercial constraints. Separate mandatory conditions from negotiable preferences.
Sourcing brief: Scope / Volume / Quality / Delivery / Commercial limits
02
Build a credible supplier field
Screen candidates for identity, capability, relevant experience, capacity and fit before detailed quotation work. A long unverified list creates activity without a decision.
Candidate record: Identity / Capability / Experience / Capacity / Fit
From Requirement to Validated Supply Option
03
Normalise offers before comparison
Align specifications, quantities, terms, tooling, packaging, freight, payment and assumptions. Quoted unit price is not comparable until the commercial basis is consistent.
Offer comparison: Specification / Price basis / Tooling / Terms / Assumptions
04
Validate before nomination
Use samples, audits, technical reviews, references and commercial clarification to test the preferred option. Award conditions and unresolved risks should be recorded.
Nomination decision: Evidence / Risks / Conditions / Backup / Approver
Sourcing Decisions Before Supplier Nomination
Guide
Guidance on sourcing requirements, market screening, RFQs, offer comparison, supplier validation, negotiation and nomination.
Comparison
Comparisons of supply markets and commercial offers across capability, total cost, quality, lead time, control and continuity.
Review
Reviews of supplier evidence, quotation assumptions, technical fit, capacity, cost drivers, dependencies and supply risk.
FAQ
Answers to procurement questions on supplier search, RFQs, samples, audits, pricing, tooling, negotiation and award decisions.
Resources
Sourcing briefs, candidate lists, RFQs, comparison models, validation records and supplier-nomination documents.
Tool
Tools for supplier screening, offer normalisation, total-cost comparison, risk assessment and award governance.
Case
Examples of how companies structured China sourcing decisions, challenged low-price assumptions and validated suppliers.
News
Developments affecting China supply markets, procurement economics, capacity and sourcing strategy.
How to Use the China Sourcing Hub
Use Guide to frame the work, Comparison and Review to test alternatives and risk, and FAQ and Resources to prepare the working file. Tool and Case support the management recommendation; News confirms whether the underlying assumptions remain current.
Management should approve the sourcing requirement, comparison method and nomination authority before the market process begins. The final decision should state the evidence, total-cost assumptions, conditions and contingency option.