Sourcing in Asia, China or South-East Asia, product quality, deadlines, compliance… identifying a reliable supplier is a strategic challenge for any Western company, whether it is in retail, industry or branding.
👉 Asking the right questions is not enough. A supplier may give reassuring answers, but the reality on the ground is sometimes quite different.
At Eastwise, we see these 10 questions as a pre-qualification step: they allow us to filter potential suppliers from the very first exchanges or during meetings at a trade show. But this is only a starting point.
Next, our local teams bring their field expertise to bear in order to compare statements with facts. We conduct detailed audits and provide ongoing operational monitoring to verify that the stated standards are actually being applied and that the supply chain remains reliable, from initial contact to final delivery.
Here are the 10 essential questions for evaluating a new supplier.
1. What are your main markets and current customers?
Knowing who the supplier works with allows you to judge their ability to meet your standards. It is also a good indicator of commercial stability and international experience.
2. Can you share your certifications and licences?
ISO, BSCI, SEDEX certifications, export licences… these documents guarantee compliance with quality, social and environmental standards.
Our added value: Eastwise first verifies the authenticity of these certifications remotely, then on site during an audit to confirm their validity and ensure that the stated practices are actually being implemented.
3. What are your internal and outsourced manufacturing processes?
Identifying what is produced in-house and what is outsourced helps you understand the level of control over the production chain and anticipate potential risks related to quality or deadlines.
4. What are your quality control processes?
A reputable supplier must:
- Carry out internal inspections at each stage
- Accept independent third-party audits
- Test its products mechanically, chemically and electrically
- Ensure the quality of both raw materials and finished products
Our added value: we carry out these quality inspections on site and provide detailed reports, ensuring that your standards are met.
5. What is your monthly/annual production capacity?
This is an essential criterion for verifying whether the supplier can absorb your current and future volumes without compromising quality or extending lead times.
Our expertise: at Eastwise, we do not simply estimate actual capacity and identify potential bottlenecks before making any commitments. We also analyse whether this capacity is in line with customer demand. Because a balanced relationship is essential for building a lasting and profitable partnership for both parties.
6. What are your standard production lead times?
Comparing their lead times with your commercial constraints helps to avoid costly stock shortages.
7. Can you provide representative samples?
Samples are the best way to validate quality and expertise.
8. What are your payment terms?
Deposits, balance before or after shipment, credit, letters of credit… clarifying this from the outset avoids surprises.
9. How do you manage the traceability and compliance of raw materials?
This is essential for complying with regulations (REACH, RoHS) and CSR criteria.
Our added value: we audit the entire sourcing process to verify the origin and compliance of raw materials.
10. What about communication and responsiveness?
A supplier who responds quickly and clearly demonstrates true reliability. The quality of exchanges is often a good reflection of the quality of the future collaboration.
Our goal? To turn answers into certainties.
Asking these 10 questions is essential, but true security comes from on-the-ground verification and operational monitoring.
At Eastwise, we help our clients to:
- Qualify their suppliers in Asia and Southeast Asia
- Secure their supplies
- Guarantee their quality and compliance standards
- Avoid risks related to deadlines, production and certifications
Key figures: for 20 years, we have been qualifying more than 250 suppliers per year in 8 countries in Asia and elsewhere.
FAQ ❓
1. How can you verify that an Asian supplier is being truthful about its certifications and capabilities?
Documents alone are not enough: some suppliers exaggerate their capabilities or display invalid certifications. Eastwise conducts on-site audits of processes and tests products.
2. What indicators can be used to detect a risky supplier?
Signals such as very long response times, a lack of transparency in manufacturing processes, the absence of a quality management system, or poor-quality samples are all warning signs that should prompt vigilance.
3. Are inspections and audits always necessary?
Yes, especially when dealing with a new supplier. Auditing a partner before placing an initial order is essential to limit the risk of non-compliance, and then carrying out inspections allows you to verify that production meets requirements. Once the relationship is established and reliable, the frequency of inspections can be reduced, but at the outset, it is a real security issue.
4. Can a supplier be verified remotely without visiting the site?
Only a local presence or a reliable partner can confirm the accuracy of the information. Eastwise acts as your representative in Asia and Southeast Asia.
Take action
✅ Download our comprehensive checklist of 10 questions to ask your next supplier in Asia
✅ Need personalised support to qualify your suppliers and secure your supplies?
