Case Studies

Picture for A UK based manufacturing and distribution company sourced the majority of its products from China. Over 90% of its customers were located outside the UK.

A UK based manufacturing and distribution company sourced the majority of its products from China. Over 90% of its customers were located outside the UK.

Case Study 1

A UK based manufacturing and distribution company sourced the majority of its products from China. Over 90% of its customers were located outside the UK. The Company wanted to build a Factory and Warehouse to house the products from China, and distribute these to the rest of the world. There would also be a requirement for a manufacturing unit that would fulfil the same purpose. The unit would have to provide a better, more efficient and lower cost solution than the UK operation.

In order to achieve the set up the operation in Thailand, there were a number of key objectives:

• Locate temporary office accommodation during construction

• Locate Ex-Pat housing right from the start

• Arrange Banking facilities

• Hire Key Thai staff – including interpreters

• Purchase IT and office equipment

• Monitor Factory building and authorise modifications

• Identify and approve all sub-contractors

• Obtain Work Permits and Operating Licences

• Create Company Structure and determine salary levels

• Hire 35 staff

• Arrange import/export agents

• Start production and distribution

The whole process took 12 months.

Significant cost savings had been achieved through a sound understanding and anticipation of where the pitfalls were likely to occur, and being able to circumvent them before they became a time constraint or a cost.