How do I start ordering small batch and low-volume manufacturing from a Chinese factory?
Confidence 4/5 Established practice
A workable first order follows the same sequence in every category: fix the specification in writing including tolerance and finish; decide the quantity against the minimum above; get a physical sample approved before any mass production; agree tooling ownership and payment terms in writing; arrange inspection before the balance is paid; and confirm the HS code and the destination labelling requirements before the goods ship rather than after. For small batch and low-volume manufacturing the two details that most often delay a first order are choosing a process because it is the one the factory has, rather than the one the volume suits and letting set-up cost hide inside the unit price, which makes the volume trade-off invisible.
Sources
- Low-volume manufacturing process selection — Industry practice; process crossover points are widely documented
- De minimis thresholds and informal entry — US Customs and Border Protection
What goes wrong with small batch and low-volume manufacturing
- Choosing a process because it is the one the factory has, rather than the one the volume suits.
- Letting set-up cost hide inside the unit price, which makes the volume trade-off invisible.
- Re-tooling at the crossover instead of planning the transition in advance.
- Assuming a small order gets the same attention as a large one; it needs a factory for which it is not trivial.
- Overlooking de minimis thresholds, which can change the entire landed cost for a small shipment.
Related questions people ask
Want this priced for your specification?
Send the requirement and any drawings. You get a supplier shortlist and one landed price, with the cost breakdown shown.