China sourcing? Gosh.. let's also look at Asia as a whole...
Korea was hot in the 80's but overpriced themselves out of the sub-assembly markets.
Taiwan is good for Hi-Tech stuff, Southern and NE (Shanghai) are good still for electronics, LCDs, Die Castings and Plastics still. around the next few years we need to look at getting furthur interior China and also look at Vietman. Thailand is good for low to medium tech items as well.. that's my experiences from 1980 to today...

Stuart - i think it's the lack of identifying a "good" supplier and making them feel like a "partner"..
Certainly the volume of parts bought has increased from the initial buys of the mid-80's in Shenzhen to the buys booked in Guangzhou, Suzhou and **** Guan, China. One really needs to be present initially, and return at least quarterly to re-inforce the imporance that the supplier plays.

I have in-house Liason and QA staff that works right in the facilities so we are able to communicate daily and offer immediate feedback when needed. Although our buy volume is low by standards the quality is reasonable.

****You are commenting on something you know nothing about - therefore your opinion is void~ You can only relate facts and opinions as it relates to you, not others or myself and my company.***

Fireball - please read again the whole sentence relating to your comment prior. You again failed to "listen" read~ My vendor "owns" his own CNC shops in China, therefore I am direct with no middleman - I have found the best of both worlds - I can help you if you have done this for 15 years and still have not had success. By the way, I am a non smoker (It is not good for you) and have fun cleaning. My company keeps me pretty busy, I have a gal that comes in twice a week to do my laundry and cleaning - she is fantastic. I can get you her contact info. if you like as well. Enough on this - it is petty and non productive to this thread~

That is exactly what my business does for the small business. We are your domestic contact and we deal directly with the Chinese facilities. I am not trying to sell you here but answering your question. If you want to contact me you can do so directly by clicking on my profile. Thanks.

I updated my profile to include my website for you (did not want to put phone number). My contact information is there. Thank you.

In my experience, the biggest setback to dealing with China, and electronic components, is the amount of counterfeit components in the market. It is difficult to find that 'diamond in the rough'.
I have seen a $1.00 part that physically looks just like a $5.00 part, where they remove the markings on the chip, and stamp them with those of the more expensive chip.. and sell them at the higher price, thousands of times over.

There are way too many domestic 'suppliers' out there that quote their 'stock' from unreputable sources overseas as well, claiming that the parts are 'their stock'

I hope for the future that there is a solution to the issues that we have with components sourced in China, but I think as one of the previous posts mentioned, by the time this comes around, we'll be procuring from other countries. From what I read lately, India is on the rise.

I would be curious to know if anyone has had any experience in dealing with acquiring parts / components from India.

Hello Guys,
Nice to read this forum topic. I do understand that there is a big concern of parts moving to Asia. But it will move anyone likes it or not, its the financial gain of every company and the so called Global trade. The only way for machine shops in Developed countries is to take advantage of this and align/collabrate/join hands with some small company in China/India or other LCC (Low Cost Country) as when the LLC companies can supply parts at such lower cost imagine how much you will have to pay from your pocket to partner with this kind of company.
Technology will get affordable and available so very soon these companies will enter into the precision component segments and then the trouble will really start. I know lot of companies who have a very good set-up and are capable of developing and manufacturing components or real precise and complex requirements. Its time now to use the brains and grab with both the hands later on.
What say?

I apologize for not having provided a source. I made quite an allegation, after all.

But, I was not talking about the lead contaminated toys. I was talking about this :http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/world/americas/06poison.html?ex=1336104000&en=c771f0d98e2efc74&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

I think perhaps I've done my share of editorializing...take a look, and make up your own mind.