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Poorly Made In China: An Insider's Account Of The Tactics Behind China's Production Game (2009)

by Paul Midler(Favorite Author)

3.99 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0470405589 (ISBN13: 9780470405581)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

John Wiley & Sons

review 1: I was pretty much an agnostic about moving our manufacturing to China. It seemed we got cheap stuff and were able to transition ourselves to a cleaner, more creative economy. But now suddenly I'm checking my personal products to ensure they are American made.Mr Midler does an excellent job of getting past all our projections of China to show the reality. The last few chapters are devastating, he even makes a very credible case that the accepted wisdom that China's population is in the billions could be totally fabricated.An important book if you are fascinated by modern China, as I am.
review 2: Super fascinating book! In short, the author, a Wharton MBA who serves as an on-the-ground liaison between Western importers and Chinese manufacturers, recounts his exp... moreeriences with trying to make the process go smoothly. It's amazing to hear how Chinese business culture and ethics differ from ours, and, relatedly, how hard it is for the author and his importer clients to get their products manufactured as agreed upon. The manufacturers are always finding creative new ways to shave off costs and pocket the difference. They change the packaging, skimp on size or quantity, do creative billing and accounting, and adjust the raw materials or ingredients in ways that make the product less appealing or even less safe. When confronted, the manufacturers rely on a combination of techniques: denying that anything is wrong, suggesting there was just a miscommunication, insisting the change makes no real difference, or threatening--sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly--to make the importer's life more difficult if he doesn't back off. The book is not just a one-sided polemic. The author also acknowledges, at least implicitly, that he can't fully anticipate and manage all these shenanigans. Meanwhile, his importer clients have some role in this, too. Some, savvy businesspeople in the west, refuse to believe they can be outmaneuvered by the manufacturers. Other importers are dedicated to the image of themselves as successful international businesspeople, whether for the sake of their self-esteem or for the sake of their promotions and raises, and thus don't want to acknowledge that their business endeavors are in a precarious position.I wish I had kindle highlights to share, but the book is full of stories, not so much quips and anecdotes. Highly recommend reading this. less

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