1. Customer and use
- Target customer identified
- Problem or use case defined
- Destination market confirmed
- Expected selling channel understood
Practical resource
China Sourcing Readiness Checklist.
Use these questions before requesting quotations or paying for samples. A clearer brief produces more comparable supplier responses and better decisions.
Before supplier contact
Define the requirement before comparing prices.
Ticking every item does not eliminate risk. It helps reveal what you know, what remains an assumption and where specialist support may be needed.
2. Product specification
- Dimensions, materials and functions listed
- Reference photographs or drawings available
- Packaging and labelling needs stated
- Acceptable alternatives identified
3. Commercial assumptions
- Target unit and landed cost estimated
- Likely order quantity considered
- Sample and tooling budget available
- Payment and currency risk considered
4. Compliance and quality
- Product regulations researched
- Certification evidence needs identified
- Quality criteria documented
- Inspection requirement considered
5. Supplier assessment
- Trading or manufacturing role clarified
- Business details independently checked
- Production capability questions prepared
- References or transaction protections considered
6. Logistics and delivery
- Incoterms understood
- Freight method and timing considered
- Duties, tax and clearance estimated
- Storage and local delivery planned
Decision checkpoint
Pause if the numbers only work under perfect conditions.
A realistic business case should tolerate reasonable variation in exchange rates, freight, lead times, defect levels and customer demand.
- What is the maximum capital you can responsibly expose?
- What evidence would cause you not to proceed?
- Who will independently inspect or verify critical requirements?
- What happens if delivery is late or the product needs rework?
Need help turning the checklist into a sourcing brief?
Use the opportunity assessment to identify whether a focused consultation or a defined sourcing project is the better starting point.
Assess Your Sourcing Need