Renaud is joined by regular guest, Clive Greenwood, an international product compliance expert based in China. They talk about the growing risks of Li-ion batteries used in Chinese e-bikes and scooters amid many high-profile fires in China, deaths in the West, and grave warnings from the FDNY. Clive also makes suggestions about how legislation can change to improve safety moving forward.

As these personal vehicles become more popular and importers around the world source them from China, it pays to understand the risks...spoiler alert, they're no joke!

00:00 - Greetings and introduction.

03:57 - Looking at the risks of Li-ion batteries used in micro-mobility in China.

09:21 - What is the Chinese government doing to combat the dangers of batteries?

17:53 - What if you're buying e-bikes and scooters, or batteries for them, from China now?

21:22 - Does China need new battery regulations to make them safer, or to just enforce the current ones?

25:42 -  Safety tips for battery buyers.

28:46 - E-bikes and scooters are a new source of risk people need to adapt to.

33:01 - Wrapping up.

• The Dangers of Cheap Li-ion Batteries and the Future of Compliance (Sofeast Podcast)

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In this bonus episode, our host and CEO Renaud is joined by our product reliability and durability expert, Andrew Amirnovin, to talk about the bad news for Apple that their much-hyped Vision Pro headset is cracking just weeks after being released to the public. They explore the durability problems rearing their heads only a month or so into the product's general release in early February 2024, based on information found in online news articles and videos.

00:00 - Introduction, what is the Vision Pro?

Apple's Vision Pro headset is an incredibly well-received augmented reality headset that earned rave reviews worldwide. It took more than 10 years to develop and is one of the most groundbreaking Apple products released in recent years.

02:29 - Uh-oh, cracks to the headset!

The external plastic layer, like a visor, is cracking in a straight line from the nose to the forehead on some models even though the customer didn't do anything like drop them. We don't know the percentage, so it's hard to ascertain what pattern there is, but these unsightly defects are not welcome in a device that costs over $3000+.

04:04 - How would an engineer start diagnosing this case?

Environmental or transportation conditions may cause a defect like this or it could even be the packaging placing some kind of stress on the wrong part of the visor that eventually results in the crack developing. It is fair to say that the plastic seems fragile.

Apple should accept field returns from customers and do a root cause analysis to identify the defect and its cause and then implement a corrective action plan.

06:40 - Is the return or repair policy straightforward? What should Apple customers do if they're affected?

Apple may need to clarify its returns or repair policy, as some customers have reported receiving different responses from Apple with some stores offering to repair or replace, and some refusing to take responsibility. With visor repairs costing $800, it seems sensible to at least invest in an AppleCare extended warranty for the device to reduce potential repair costs.

08:48 - Is it likely Apple's engineers missed this issue and never saw it during product testing and development?

It's hard to say, but was the visor that cracks added after most development and testing was done maybe for some reason? If so it may not have been tested (as much). If Apple doesn't fix this, and fast, it could damage their brand as this is such a high-profile release. The situation is similar to the problems they had with the Macbook 'Butterfly' keyboards in 2015/2016 which they replaced by returning to a scissor mechanism they then named the 'Magic' keyboard, although in those cases Apple replaced the defective keyboard (and sometimes added a new battery) for free.

11:29 - We all know that an iPhone is likely to suffer damage when dropped from 6ft, should we be surprised that the Vision Pro seems similarly fragile?

The Vision Pro does not seem very durable, the same as the iPhone. The majority of users put their iPhones in a protective case for exactly this reason.

An acceptable drop height for a mobile phone to withstand damage is about 1M, not 6ft. However the Vision Pro is meant to be worn on the face and is very front-heavy, so if it slips, it will likely fall from around 6ft. There is no protective case for the Vision Pro when it is in use unlike for phones, therefore, should it be durable enough to survive such a drop, especially for its price?

13:27 - Wrapping up.

• Vision Pro owners are reporting a mysterious crack in the front glass

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Adrian hosts and is joined by Sofeast Group senior engineer, Paul Adams, and they talk about the uses and limitations of the metal and plastic 'development prototypes,' that is to say, product prototypes made during the development process and before mass production. Remember, these are not production-standard prototypes, but that doesn't mean that they aren't important as you will find out...it's all about controlling expectations.

00:00 - Greetings and introduction

02:06 - Why are we producing prototypes to start with?

04:09 - Plastic prototyping processes.

07:02 - 3D-Printed plastic development prototype limitations.

12:10 - The trade-off between quality and cost when it comes to prototypes.

15:34 - Metal prototyping processes.

18:18 - Metal development prototype limitations.

22:48 - Key limitations of development prototypes.

29:35 - Considerations for you regarding prototypes.

32:56 - Wrapping up.

• Rapid Tooling Prototyping Guide

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Adrian and Renaud discuss how to plan for the handover of your innovative new product to manufacturing (with a focus on hard goods with mechanical elements and some electronic/electrical parts). Product handover should be a structured process of actions taken mainly before the manufacturer gets involved to ensure a smooth transition from you to them so the product ends up being made to your specifications and requirements and the risks of issues before product launch are minimized.

You'll learn:

• What a product handover is.

00:00 - Greetings and introduction

00:50 - Who needs to hand over their product to a manufacturer and why?

04:22 - The WRONG way to hand over to the manufacturer.

09:57 - Questions about the product that need to be answered.

12:55 - Who will do the DFM?

15:32 - What can happen if you just throw designs over the wall to a manufacturer without doing a DFM review?

18:15 - Handover best practices.

35:14 - When is the handover complete?

37:59 - Wrapping up.

• Avoid Sending Immature Product Designs to a Chinese Manufacturer! [Podcast]

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Renaud hosts today and welcomes guest speaker Amit Rosenthal, CEO of Proboxx, to the show and this episode's focus is on moving your products from Asia to where they need to be via freight forwarding. They discuss how the latest technological advancements in freight forwarding are streamlining operations, improving tracking and transparency, and offering more reliable and efficient services for Amazon sellers.

Since many people manufacturing overseas end up selling on Amazon, at least as part of their mix, being up to speed on moving your products is useful, so hit that play button!

00:00 - Greetings and introduction of Amit and his freight forwarding business, Proboxx.

06:03 - How and why freight forwarding needed to go from old-fashioned to cutting edge.

13:20 - Why not knowing their shipment's arrival date at the distribution facility can make life difficult for sellers.

19:21 - How do Amazon sellers plan their sales?

22:31 - Are GPS trackers for the products in a container helpful?

26:33 - Many small freight forwarders set up in China since around 2020 are going bust, how does this affect overseas customers?

32:05 - Wrapping up.

• Learn more about Proboxx and how they can help you

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Adrian and Renaud go through what makes a good QA auditing and inspection program for innovative new electro-mechanical products that will reduce risks of poor quality, reliability, and compliance, and detect the issues in time for them to be worked on before anything is shipped. Unless you are producing simple products or working with a supplier who is very experienced in manufacturing the exact product type you're developing, you will very likely require some form of QA program like this.

It's split into 5 points: 1-3 cover the preparation of the product and process design, then 4-5 are after the product starts mass production. Listen and explore what needs to happen to power up your product quality!

00:00 - Greetings and introduction

01:37 - Why do you need a QA auditing and inspection program?

06:53 - #1. A DFM review of some components (especially custom-designed).

10:50 - #2. A quality system audit of suppliers’ factories.

18:00 - Are market surveillance authorities scrutinising product compliance more than before?

21:13 - #3. Production line preparation audit at the assembly factory.

28:46 - #4. A product inspection during the pilot run(s).

33:12 - #5. Final product inspections during and after production.

41:09 - Wrapping up.

• Explore Sofeast factory audits and product inspections

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On this episode of the China Manufacturing Decoded Podcast, Adrian hosts and is joined by Andrew, our reliability and compliance expert, from the Sofeast Group for a deep dive into electrostatic discharge (ESD) – a critical factor in electronics production with the potential for significant impact on product success and customer satisfaction. They stress the importance of ESD testing for bulk-manufactured electronics and discuss the potential consequences of failing to consider ESD in manufacturing, such as financial loss and product recalls.

Beyond providing an overview of ESD's significance, this conversation also introduces listeners to three methodologies used for its testing: The Human Body Model (HBM), the Machine Model (MM), and the Charged Device Model (CDM). Andrew elucidates these models, their unique benefits, and their most appropriate application industries as part of a comprehensive ESD discussion.

The need for ESD-resistant design, sound manufacturing environments, and ESD-protective packaging are a few of the critical preventative measures emphasized. Additionally, the roles of regular auditing and assessments for maintaining compliance and enhancing manufacturing methods are also underscored. The episode culminates with specific ESD requirements and testing protocols per product, concluding with insights on how a comprehensive ESD prevention approach can help avoid product returns and financial disparities.

This episode equips listeners with the knowledge needed for safeguarding their electronic products against ESD, enlightening them about its potential damage, and details preventive measures for ESD in the manufacturing process.

00:00 - Greetings and introduction.

02:24 - What is ESD?

06:59 - 3 ESD test models.

13:41 - Common tests and voltages.

18:53 - The harm or damage that can be caused by ESD.

25:42 - How to prevent the effects of ESD?

35:53 - Product design to prevent ESD.

38:34 - Wrapping up.

• ESD definition

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Welcome to our special 200th episode of China Manufacturing Decoded, a podcast by Sofeast Group, where we discuss global manufacturing topics to help you decode and navigate the supply chain world.

In this episode, we discuss the impact of the Houthi Yemeni rebels' attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, and how it may affect your shipping costs and other issues you might face. We're joined by our very own Kate Oliynykova, Head of Supply Chain Management at Sofeast Group, who shares her insights on the current political events and their potential ripple effects on importers. Listen in as we unravel the complexity of this issue.

The Red Sea route accounts for 12% of global trade, including 30% of the container traffic passing through the Suez Canal. Any disruption in this route affects not only oil and gas prices but also the availability and cost of a broad range of goods. The current attacks have caused a direct increase in ship insurance costs, prompting bigger shipping companies to opt for alternative routes around the Cape of Good Hope. This, in turn, not only escalates transportation costs but also significantly extends delivery times.

In this scenario, we advise importers to diversify their supply chain, considering options like rail or truck deliveries, or partial shipments with air freight.

What are the repercussions if the situation is prolonged? How can importers better prepare for these unforeseen circumstances? Tune in to this episode of China Manufacturing Decoded as we discuss the critical aspects of this multinational issue. Remember, the Sofeast Group offers an in-house logistics department to help formulate a tailored solution that meets your needs most cost-effectively, given the present situation.

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In this insightful episode, host Renaud Anjoran and senior engineer Paul Adams delve into the intriguing world of the 'experience effect' - a phenomenon that offers a wealth of benefits in mass production through persistent refinement and accumulated knowledge. Immersing you in several industrial examples, Renaud and Paul throw light on how Boeing and the semiconductor industry have leveraged the experience curve to their advantage. Witness firsthand, the complex interplay between efficiency, cost reduction, and the tangible journey of relentless improvement in mass manufacturing setups.

00:00 - Greetings and introduction.

00:51 - The example of Boeing in the 40s and 50s.

04:04 - The theory behind the experience effect.

12:10 - It's more than just individuals improving on the production line...the whole business must evolve. 

20:00 - Pilot and starting costs are higher, but don't be tempted to skip ahead.

25:46 - The learning curve.

28:23 - How does the experience effect translate in commercial terms?

32:54 - Who does improvement work the right way?

35:10 - Conclusion.

• Robust Design: Enhancing Product Quality and Performance

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Renaud and Andrew Amirnovin, Sofeast's Head of Compliance and Reliability, are talking about the Boeing 737 Max 9 airplane that has been in the news again following a very frightening incident where part of the body blew out leading to a sudden depressurization and emergency landing. But why did this occur? Are there more quality and reliability issues to worry about?

00:00 - Greetings and introduction.

01:18 - What happened on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Jan 5th, 2024?

05:03 - Has the FAA been going too easy on Boeing?

06:33 - Did Boeing rushing to redevelop the 737 lead to catastrophic problems?

10:57 - Why was Boeing under such pressure? A look back over a few decades.

13:43 - Worrying tales from angry former Boeing employees.

18:39 - 737 Max grounding.

22:38 - Time for new leadership at Boeing?

26:52 - FAA audit.

29:32 - Had warnings been properly heeded?

34:12 - Next steps and takeaways.

37:45 - Wrapping up.

• Mid-air blowout can 'never happen again,' Boeing CEO says after Alaska Airlines accident

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