LRG Batman Bluetooth Speaker

Background of Client LRG

Client Profile: LRG International stands out as an eco-conscious, award-winning global entity in marketing and sales promotions. It collaborates with a wide array of businesses across various sectors, enhancing their local and international marketing efforts with an extensive selection of promotional merchandise, custom point-of-sale materials, and innovative branding solutions. LRG primarily engages with LeelineSourcing for the customization of movie-related merchandise.

As LRG’s merchandise portfolio grew, the need for a comprehensive service provider well-versed in the Chinese supply chain became evident. LeelineSourcing emerged as a reliable, long-term collaborator for LRG, owing to its adeptness in managing and executing orders efficiently.

Timely Product Delivery and Launch on a Dedicated Website

Following nearly a month of collaborative efforts among LeelineSourcing, the manufacturing plant, and LRG, including stages of prototyping, sample approval, and production, the product was successfully introduced to the market. The subsequent media coverage of the product launch can be found at the provided link.

LRG’s Inquiry on Bluetooth Speakers

LRG expressed interest in custom-branded speakers. After reviewing the client’s design preferences, we shortlisted Bluetooth speaker models that aligned with LRG’s budgetary and aesthetic requirements.

Ultimately, LRG chose a stylish, cost-effective speaker model for custom design development.

Order Placement and Sample Approval Process

We pinpointed a supplier (Shenzhen **** Electronics Co.) and coordinated the creation of speaker samples and logo customization. Following in-house testing, the samples were dispatched to LRG in the UK for final approval.

Customization of the Instruction Manual Required

Given the bespoke nature of the Bluetooth speaker, assistance in designing, customizing, and proofing the accompanying instruction manual is necessary.

Quality Control via Third-Party Inspection

To meet the client’s demanding delivery timeline, we coordinated with the manufacturing facility to implement a dual-shift production strategy, ensuring completion within the 15-day work period. Concurrently, the client engaged V-Trust, a third-party inspection service, to conduct a thorough quality assessment.

Production Issues and Resolutions

Following the receipt of the V-Trust inspection report from the client, which indicated a failure in the initial inspection, a detailed review was conducted alongside the factory to address several identified issues.

1.Discoloration of the Bluetooth Speaker Mesh

• Issue: The discoloration was traced back to the mesh being boxed and sealed for shipping immediately after oil spraying, without adequate drying time, leading to color loss upon wiping.

• Resolution: The factory was advised to ensure the mesh is fully dried before proceeding with boxing and packaging to prevent recurrence.

2.Logo Adhesion Problem During 3M Tape Test

• Issue: The logo, printed on the last day, did not have sufficient time to dry due to the rushed schedule.

• Resolution: The process was adjusted to allow the logo to fully dry post-printing before it is used in production, ensuring better adhesion.

Absence of Capacity Codes on Batteries

• Issue: In the rush to meet order deadlines, the battery supplier skipped the step of printing capacity codes on the batteries.

• Resolution: The importance of having capacity codes on batteries was emphasized to the supplier, with a mandate that all future orders must include these codes.

Surface Cracks on Two Keys

• Issue: An uneven application of rubber oil resulted in surface cracks on two of the keys.

• Resolution: The factory agreed to implement self-inspections at each workstation and to provide additional training to the staff, focusing on this detail to ensure defective keys are identified and corrected before moving to the next production stage.

These corrective measures led to the resolution of the initial problems, and a subsequent inspection on January 25, 2022, was passed successfully.

Successful Second Inspection and Shipment

Following the approval of the second inspection, Sales Manager Tiven issued a proforma invoice to the client for the final settlement and shipping fees. Subsequently, the shipment was organized via air from the Shenzhen warehouse.

Insights Gained:

Lesson 1: Client Approval of Samples Does Not Equate to Final Approval

It’s crucial to understand that a client’s approval of a sample, based primarily on its aesthetics and functionality, does not guarantee its overall quality. This underscores the importance of LeelineSourcing conducting thorough internal checks. Our internal review process now meticulously examines various aspects such as design, functionality, packaging, and print quality. Additionally, we’ve incorporated a check for the screen printing on batteries within our electronic accessories to avert similar issues in the future.

Lesson 2: Unexpected Problems Can Arise in Seemingly Low-Risk Areas

The incident with the screen-printed logos not drying before packaging highlights that issues can emerge in the least expected areas, especially under tight deadlines. The adage “haste makes waste” holds true here; compromising quality for speed can lead to significant setbacks. Moving forward, we will ensure that production timelines are realistic and communicated clearly to our clients, prioritizing quality over speed to prevent such quality issues.