that produce the wrong supplier
The supplier selection decision is one of the highest-impact decisions in the product development process. Most brands do not treat it as one.
Selecting on price without capability verification
A factory that quotes the lowest price per unit may not have the production equipment, quality systems, or capacity to deliver the volume and specification required. Price comparison without capability verification is selecting among unknown options.
Single-supplier dependency from first production run
A single production source for a product with no qualified backup is a supply chain risk. Disruptions at the factory — quality failure, capacity constraint, or relationship breakdown — have no alternative path. Qualifying a second source is part of sourcing, not a future project.
Trading company sourcing without factory visibility
A trading company presents as a manufacturer, places orders with an actual factory, adds margin, and the brand never knows who makes the product or whether they could source it directly. Trading company relationships are common and often unidentified. Direct factory relationships are more cost-efficient and provide IP visibility.
for a verified supply chain.
Each component eliminates a specific sourcing failure mode. Together they produce a verified supplier relationship with negotiated terms.
Supplier Identification
Factory candidates identified from the CNBSolutions network and direct market search. Candidates assessed for process capability, capacity, location, and existing customer references. Trading companies identified and excluded. Direct factory relationships established.
Supplier Qualification
On-site factory audit for shortlisted candidates. Production equipment verified. Quality system assessed. Capacity confirmed for the required volume tier. Financial stability reviewed. Qualified suppliers documented with audit findings.
Pricing & Terms Negotiation
Unit pricing, tooling cost, payment terms, lead time, and quality agreement negotiated with relationship leverage from CNBSolutions volume history. Multiple supplier quotes obtained and compared on a normalized basis. Not the cheapest option — the best-value option from a qualified supplier.
Second-Source Qualification
A second qualified supplier for the same product identified and assessed in parallel with the primary supplier. Not fully activated until required — but qualified and priced so that an alternative source is available without an emergency sourcing process.
Price second. Terms third.
Sourcing that starts from price produces the wrong result. We qualify capability before we discuss price.
Sourcing Brief
Product specifications, volume requirements, quality standards, and delivery requirements documented. Supplier qualification criteria defined from the production process and quality requirements. Sourcing brief used to evaluate and compare all candidate suppliers on the same basis.
Supplier Assessment
Factory candidates identified. Audits conducted for shortlisted candidates. Assessment results documented and compared. Recommended supplier selected with rationale.
Negotiation & Contract
Pricing and terms negotiated. Quality agreement and IP protection documentation executed. Purchase order terms agreed. Second-source assessed in parallel. Sourcing documentation delivered to the client as the supply chain record.
with a negotiated contract and a backup.
Every sourcing engagement ends with a documented supplier relationship — not just a contact name.
Candidate factories assessed against qualification criteria with recommendation.
On-site audit findings for the selected and backup supplier.
Unit price, tooling cost, and terms negotiated with supporting quote comparison.
Documented quality requirements and acceptance criteria agreed with the supplier.
Backup supplier assessed, priced, and documented.
Sourcing managed through CNBSolutions operations with direct factory relationships.
Product Development includes additional services that compound on this one.
Source from the right factory,
not the fastest respondent
We work through referrals. If you have been referred, send us a message and we will assess your current supplier relationship and identify the qualification gaps.