I have my prototype and I am almost done with my patent, but I am not sure how I go about finding the "RiGhT" manufacturer. In order to have a cost-effective product, I would need to have my sample "perfected" and manufactured overseas. Is there anyone who can give me references or advice on how I can do this? I have found very large directories online for manufacturers in China who specialize in specific products, but I was so overwhelmed that I didn't know where to start. Literature and other Inventor resources keep referring to companies in the U.S. only, but it would be more costly for me to produce. I am hoping to find other people that have gone through this process already and have some helpful advice... Thank you so much!!

Hi Brenda - Although my company charges to help you secure overseas manufacturing by finding the right factory for your product, I can tell you that making something in China for example is almost always a LOT less expensive. Looking on line is fine to see what types of factories exist but prepaying for manufacturing your products overseas can be VERY RISKY! It is thousands of miles away and if you choose the wrong factory and get burned, try suing them! You will never be able to chase down someone over there.... Anyway, hope this helps a little.....Jim www.decavicorp.com

Hi Brenda, I'm an inventor and I had a great experience with a vendor in China. I can give you more information if you need. My product was seamless and I was very impressed with the quality. The only negative thing I can say is it takes a little while for high volume manufacturing quanities of 5,000 or more. You can check out my product if you like. www.drinxtopper.com

Yes, those are good points JimD makes. We use several factories ourselves and have pretty expert knowledge in certain product categories. If you'd like to email me - (can you do that on this site?), and tell me a little about your type of product, then I could let you know if maybe I could help.

Brenda, If Your item is TOY RELATED I can help you find a manufacturer overseas. I have been a toy inventor since 1983 and have a lot of experience. Let me know if I can help. Ruth

Are the overseas manufacturers able to fabricate toys that are slightly complicated? Like moving parts and springs?

Absolutely, There are quality manufacturers that can be found all over the world. I love Alibaba.com. It is a great site to post an RFB (request for bid) where you can list all the specs. If it is something you don't want to divulge, you can search by just going through the directory.

Hope that helps.

Lisa

Hello, My name is Dan and I have gone through the same headaches and issues you are going through. Let me just be brief and right to the point. China manufacturers are good in price but terrible in quality. Plus, the shipping back and forth is hell, we are talking about weeks difference waiting around to see your prototype. Yes, the prototype is expensive but once you have it done here, in our country, where you can monitor the quality, the chinese people are good in copying the model, not creating it. They are not very good with giving them paper format of the prototype and them creating it. I would suggest you to be cautious, however, when the product is done by US manufacturers, you can have the mass production done in China, that will definitely save you a bundle.

Respectfully, I don't agree with sweeping statements like "China manufacturers are good in price but terrible in quality." My experience has been quite different. It is true you can end up with a bad company, but you can have that happen right here in the US too. So, my suggestion is to thoroughly consider all the facts and work with companies that are reputable. One way to avoid working with a bad manufacturer is to find a good rep. to help you. Hope that helps.

I am trying to locate a manufacturer for a teething product for babies. I know the material to use, I have a prototype and a design patent followed by a provisional patent. I am running into walls for this specific idea.

I've heard of a couple good sources such as thomasnet.com and alibaba.com are great places to find manufacturers online. You can also look in industry publications and approach manufacturers who make a similar product.

Finding the right manufacturer is a function of having the drawings ( solid modeling) and specifications and having gone through the entire process of SLR prototyping so that you know everything fits and works. If it is a sketch on a piece of paper, or a crude prototype, then thats another story.

These days whether the product tooling is done in the US, or China, or India if the tooling is created from solid modeling to CAD CAM ( compouter aided machining) the results are the same.

If the tooling is made in some shop with someone cranking the handle of a milling machine, then you are in trouble.

I have had good experiences and bad experineces in China, It is a function of how well you control the project,a whether you control the design process.

Its all legwork, lots of time, lots of phone / email work, and finally, a bit of traveling.

Though were a design studio, we are also working on Cord Order, a cord management device.

We have tooling done for the plastic mold, and are getting bids on the foam. Then, we'll find someone to put it all together.

Through networking, we found a high-quality (ISO 9000) China manufacturer who can make a larger tooling for ~10,000$, but we can then mass produce the product.

Just put in your time, get referrals (even from other companies who are related to your product, but can't manufacture it), and keep a log.

Its good to then visit the actual factory, if possible, and have quality / contracts down to a T.

Cheers!