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Rough Guide to Outsourcing In China

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the engineering-while-jetlagged dept.

zentec writes, "An article in Design News chronicles WiLife's outsourcing project to China (they make consumer surveillance cameras). It's a tale of a language barrier, misplaced EEPROMS, backyard engineering, incorrectly assembled parts, sloppy engineering, and flaring tempers. That, and an initial defect rate of nearly 80%." In the end WiLife seemed happy enough with their outsourced manufacturing. This is a nitty-gritty account of life under globalization.

4 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Please don't insult Slashdotters... by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 4, Funny
    It's a tale of a language barrier, backyard engineering...
    I hope you came to do something more productive than ridicule Slashdotters.
  2. Chinese massage parlors... by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 2, Funny
    Al Mudrow's Tips For Traveling in China: 10. If you go out for a massage, which are common in China, make sure you specify to the receptionist that you want a "foot massage". I've been told a regular massage involves more intimate contact than you may be comfortable with.
    You've "been told" this, huh? By "a friend," I suppose?
  3. China Vs USA by russ1337 · · Score: 2, Funny

    >> It's a tale of a language barrier, misplaced EEPROMS, backyard engineering, incorrectly assembled parts, sloppy engineering, and flaring tempers. That, and an initial defect rate of nearly 80%."

    That sums up manufacturing in the USA, so what problems did they have in China?

  4. Re:the operative word by dan828 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Which is why open source products are taking over the market and grinding all of their competitors into the dust. Oh how I long for the old days when just about every computer sold came with commercial proprietary operating systems and businesses and government agencies would only use commercial office suites. I sure miss the quality!