Visit planning
How to plan a China factory visit
Start with your product and the decision you need to make. Confirm the supplier, production address and meeting scope before arranging the route.
Work through the decisions in order
Define what you need to learn
Bring a product specification or sample reference, expected quantity and a short list of decisions. Exploring a process, reviewing a sample and negotiating an order need different meetings.
Choose suppliers and production locations
Use the manufacturing hub finder if you are still choosing a region. For an existing shortlist, confirm which company and address actually perform the work relevant to your product.
Agree access and participants
Get the date, address, host contact, available areas and meeting scope in writing. Ask which technical or commercial staff can attend. Confirm any photography or filming permission separately.
Build the route from confirmed appointments
Check door-to-door travel, entrance procedures, meal breaks and time for notes. Ask each factory about its production schedule and holiday arrangements; a market opening does not confirm that a production line is operating.
Confirm the budget and records
Agree support, transport and written deliverables. Use the cost planning guide to check exclusions and the supplier questions to request records before you arrive.
How many factories can you visit in one day?
One detailed visit
Allow a full day when you need a production walk-through, technical discussion, sample review and document follow-up. A first visit or a complex product may need more time than a repeat meeting.
Two focused appointments
Consider two only when the sites are close, the purpose of each meeting is narrow and both hosts have confirmed the schedule. Keep time for travel and notes; do not assume two addresses in the same city are nearby.
These are planning options, not a daily quota. For a multi-city trip, reserve travel blocks separately. Reduce the number of appointments if a delayed first meeting would make the second impractical.
An example agenda for one detailed visit
Illustrative time blocks, not a fixed itinerary. Confirm the sequence and access with the host.
| Block | Purpose | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival and introductions | Confirm participants, product scope and permitted areas. | Names, roles and changes to the plan. |
| Production review | Follow the relevant process and identify outsourced steps. | Observations, permitted photos and questions needing evidence. |
| Technical and sample discussion | Compare specifications, samples and quality checks. | Sample references and unresolved requirements. |
| Commercial discussion | Review the quote assumptions, MOQ and schedule. | Written terms to confirm and responsible contacts. |
| Close and debrief | Agree next steps and leave time to write notes. | Action owner, evidence needed and response date. |
Write the comparison before the next meeting
Separate what you saw from what the supplier said and what you still need to verify. Keep quote versions and sample references with the notes. Use the same supplier comparison template for each company.
Where a formal audit, testing or shipment inspection is needed, arrange that as a separate task. A hosted visit does not provide those conclusions.