Technical advisory for global manufacturers sourcing dispensing, assembly, testing and packaging equipment from China. I identify the risks your supplier won't tell you — before you sign.
Equipment expertise
I focus exclusively on the equipment categories where I have hands-on commissioning experience — so you get a real technical opinion, not a checklist.
Dispensing systems — adhesive, solder paste, conformal coating, fluid dispensing — are among the most specification-sensitive equipment in any production line. Chinese suppliers often optimise demos for controlled conditions, not your actual production environment.
I evaluate dispensing systems against your actual fluid properties, substrate tolerances, and cycle time requirements — not the supplier's standard spec sheet.
Assembly automation — pick-and-place, screw driving, press-fit, robotic cells — appears straightforward until you're at FAT and cycle time is 30% below spec or reject rate is 5× the promised figure.
I have commissioned over 15 assembly lines across 3C electronics and tobacco manufacturing. I know exactly which corners Chinese machine builders cut when no one is watching.
End-of-line functional testers, AOI systems, electrical test stations — if these pass defective products, you find out from your customer. I ensure your test equipment is validated against actual defect modes, not just supplier-defined test cases.
With experience in 3C electrical testing and tobacco product quality verification, I understand both the test engineering and the manufacturing context.
Packaging automation — primary, secondary, end-of-line — involves the most complex mechanical systems and the highest risk of schedule overrun. Chinese packaging machine builders often over-promise on speed and under-deliver on reliability.
Having delivered 10+ packaging line projects for Fortune 500 tobacco and FMCG clients, I know which suppliers deliver and which ones will still be debugging on your production start date.
Advisory services
Structured to match where you are in the procurement process — from vendor selection through ongoing operations support.
On-site assessment of shortlisted Chinese equipment suppliers. I evaluate technical capability, quality systems, financial stability, and reference installations — then deliver a written report you can act on.
¥15,000 – ¥30,000 / projectEquipment specifications written by Chinese suppliers are designed to win orders, not bind performance. I translate, audit, and rewrite the technical annex so you know exactly what you are — and aren't — buying.
¥15,000 – ¥30,000 / projectI attend Factory Acceptance Testing at the supplier's facility and Site Acceptance Testing at your plant. I write the protocol, manage the punch list, and stay through ramp-up until you hit target OEE.
¥15,000 – ¥40,000 / engagementRetained access to a senior automation engineer with deep China supplier knowledge. Supplier escalations, specification reviews, project oversight, process improvement — on demand, as needed.
¥150,000 – ¥400,000 / yearHow it works
A structured engagement process — so there are no surprises on either side.
We align on objectives, constraints, and timeline. I review your vendor shortlist and existing documentation.
On-site in China, I verify what suppliers claim — technical audits, factory visits, specification gap analysis.
FAT at the supplier, SAT at your facility, installation supervision, and ramp-up management.
Ongoing advisory access — available for supplier escalations, new projects, and process improvement.
Case studies
All clients anonymised per confidentiality agreements. Results are actual project outcomes.
A global tobacco company launching a new HNB line in Southeast Asia. The Chinese supplier had never exported. I joined as technical lead from spec review through SAT, identifying 23 critical gaps pre-contract and restructuring the FAT protocol — delivering a line that hit 95% OEE in week one.
Client had signed an LOI with a Chinese dispensing-assembly vendor. My audit uncovered fabricated reference visits and inadequate precision capability. Contract cancelled at zero penalty. Client re-sourced through my network and launched on schedule.
A multinational food company setting up a co-packing facility in Vietnam with a fully Chinese-sourced packaging line. I managed spec writing, vendor selection, FAT in Guangzhou, installation supervision, and ramp-up — 3 weeks ahead of the original project schedule.
About
I spent a decade inside global manufacturing — designing automation equipment, commissioning dispensing and assembly lines, and leading cross-border projects for Fortune 500 companies in tobacco and 3C electronics.
Most international manufacturers buying Chinese automation don't have a technical expert in the room. They rely on supplier documentation that is incomplete, poorly translated, or written to obscure limitations. That's where projects fail.
I founded this practice to give global manufacturers a genuine technical advocate during China procurement. No sales agenda. No supplier relationships to protect. Just clear, independent technical advice.
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What clients say
Having someone in the room who actually knew what questions to ask the supplier changed everything. We caught issues during FAT that would have cost us 3 months and significant budget to fix post-installation.
The due diligence report was the clearest technical document I've received from any consultant. It gave our team the confidence to walk away from a supplier that looked good on paper but couldn't deliver.
Insights
Most international buyers discover equipment limitations at FAT — when changing suppliers is no longer an option. Here's what to ask before you commit.
Dispensing specs written by suppliers are optimised for demos, not your process. A practical guide to writing specs that bind supplier performance.
A FAT that doesn't replicate real production conditions is a performance, not a test. Here's how to design one that actually surfaces problems before shipment.
Get in touch
I respond to every serious enquiry within one business day. No sales pitch — just a direct conversation about whether I can help.