A good custom product idea can really give a brand or company a boost.

Something like a tech gadget made from eco-friendly materials or a trendy accessory might help your brand stand out from your competitors. Not only will people take value from your product, but they’ll also remember your brand for being useful or creative.

Going from idea to actual product can be a challenge, however. With over 5.46 million manufacturing companies in operation as of 2024, finding a reliable manufacturer with the right skills – and that can deliver on time and within budget – is rarely straightforward. Your requirements might be more unique than you first think, and language barriers may lead to miscommunication and other unfortunate mishaps. 

In this article, we share a framework for picking a trustworthy manufacturing partner for your custom projects. We’ll also look at some general things to know when you’re looking for a trustworthy manufacturer and explore differences between some popular global manufacturing regions.

We'll also look at how Wayo may be able to help your company. By streamlining the sourcing process, Wayo removes the headaches of the traditional sourcing process, empowering companies and creators to focus their efforts on the high-impact initiatives that matter most to their business.

How to find a good manufacturer

There are some basic things to consider when you first start searching for a custom product manufacturer. Below are some of those key considerations: 

1. Where to look for a manufacturer

Some of the most common ways to find a manufacturing partner are through: 

• Online platforms like Alibaba or Made in China
• Trade shows and expos
• Sourcing agents and business directories
• Recommendations and referrals

Outside of these options, you can also conduct an online search for a manufacturer that fits your needs. However, it’s important to note that many factories do not have a strong online presence.

2. What to look for in a custom product manufacturer

Now that you know where you can find a manufacturer, you need to proactively consider the qualities you’re looking for from that manufacturer. You should look closely at what skills each manufacturer has and how they work to see if they’re the right fit.

Here are a few important things to consider when assessing a potential manufacturing partner: 

• Communication - Are you able to communicate effectively with the factory? This question encompasses more than just language abilities, and includes cultural differences and preferred communication styles.
• Factory reputation - Does the factory have a good track record of delivering high-quality goods on time? Are they considered easy or difficult to work with? 
• Level of design collaboration - Will the factory work collaboratively with you to effectively bring your design to life?
• Minimum order quantity (MOQ) - Does your order size meet the factory’s minimum order quantity requirements? 
• Manufacturing domain experience – How experienced is the factory in making the product you want?
• Production capacity - Will they be able to produce the quantity you want, within your ideal time frame? 
• Post-production logistics - Will the factory help you manage logistics related to packaging, shipment, customs, etc.? 
• Regulatory compliance/certifications - Are there any certifications or requirements you want or need? Does the factory have them, or are they willing to help you get them?
• Trustworthiness - Can you trust the factory with your design?

Below, we explore each of these factors in greater detail.

Manufacturing domain experience

First and foremost, you should choose a manufacturer that has experience in your product category or in the area of manufacturing relevant to your product. This is the most important consideration, so it should be at the top of your list when assessing potential factories.

If you're looking for something like a durable, eco-friendly, washable paper bag, you want to hire a manufacturer that has experience making this kind of product and working with specialist materials.

A manufacturer with domain experience will be far more likely to produce quality products and significantly less likely to run into problems. Their production methods, staff, and equipment will all have been pre-tested. Overall, they will be much more reliable. Quality control processes are also likely to be well established.

While it’s also sometimes okay to work with a manufacturer without direct product experience, they should still, however, be experienced in the relevant area of production. For example, if your product is made from sheet metal, your manufacturer should be experienced with sheet metal. 

Regulatory compliance/certifications

It's particularly important to think about manufacturer skills and experience if there are any regulatory conditions or desired certifications that apply to your product, or if you want to ensure that the factory you’re working with fits your values.

Some specific certifications to consider include:

• SA8000 for humane working conditions
• ISO 9001 for quality management 
• ISO 140001 for environmental management and practices

Production capacity

You need to hire a manufacturer that can produce the quantity of products you need in the time frame you need them. This is a basic but important consideration you should assess at the early stages of consultation.

Minimum order quantities (MOQs)

Another consideration is whether a manufacturer has minimum order quantity requirements (MOQs). MOQs vary by product type, and unit prices get increasingly better at larger quantities.

Make sure you aren’t below MOQs for the price you'd like to pay and that the factory will accept your order size.

Capacity to collaborate on design

Some manufacturers will be able to collaborate on product design with you better than others. Ideally, you want a manufacturer that will look at your designs and proactively share feedback on the manufacturability of your design.

Experienced, collaborative manufacturing partners will help you adjust your designs and offer options for more efficient, lower-cost production, for example. They might even be able to improve product performance through design adjustments.

Communication style

If you are going to be working with a factory directly, rather than through a third party, you should look for one that you can communicate with easily. This includes, but isn’t limited to, language barriers. Not only do communication difficulties take time and cause confusion, they may also lead to critical mistakes that cost you time and money. 

Assistance with post-production logistics

You may or may not want to hire a manufacturer that can assist you with post-production logistics.

Some factories are able to arrange delivery and help you with customs and import regulations. In other cases, factories can deliver products directly to your customers, simplifying the fulfillment process for you. 

Factory reputation

An important factor in the selection process is the manufacturer’s reputation. Do some background research and check potential partners to see if they have a track record of delivering high-quality products, smoothly and on time. 

High-quality suppliers will give you a competitive advantage. A partnership with the wrong manufacturing partner will not.

Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness is very important for products where intellectual property matters. Designs are frequently leaked. In some extreme cases, manufacturers may even copy designs and sell products under their own name!

If this is a concern for your product or brand, you should look into protections for intellectual property and carefully vet suppliers for trustworthiness.

The common challenge: Balancing cost, quality, and time

After you look at how different factories work, what skills they have, and what kind of reputation they have, you should be able to make a shortlist of potential candidates.

At this stage, most brands and companies have to make a trade-off between cost, quality, minimum order quantities, and turnaround times. You can request quotes and schedules from different companies and make the decision that suits you. Be careful to ask for second opinions and to compare as many options as you can.

Comparing manufacturing companies by region

It's good to be informed about what to expect when you're looking at potential manufacturing partners in different parts of the world. This will help you narrow down your list and make your search more efficient.

Below, you can find typical product categories, MOQs, turnaround times, and costs for key manufacturing regions.

China

Typical product categories:

• Electronics, apparel and textiles, machinery, toys, and consumer goods

Minimum order quantities (MOQs):

• Typically, ranges from 500 to several thousand units, depending on the product

Average turnaround time:

• Production lead time: 30–60 days
• Shipping time: 2–6 weeks, depending on the destination

Cost:

• Competitive pricing: Low production costs, but consider additional expenses like shipping

India

Typical product categories:

• Textiles and garments, leather goods, handicrafts, jewelry, and IT services

Minimum order quantities (MOQs):

• Often lower MOQs, starting from 100–500 units

Average turnaround time:

• Production lead time: 45–90 days
• Shipping time: 3–6 weeks internationally

Cost:

• Affordable pricing: Low production costs, but delays can add indirect costs

Vietnam

Typical product categories:

• Apparel and footwear, electronics assembly, furniture, and agricultural products

Minimum order quantities (MOQs):

• Generally start from 300–1,000 units

Average turnaround time:

• Production lead time: 45–60 days
• Shipping time: 2–5 weeks, depending on location

Cost:

• Cost-effective: Lower labor costs contribute to competitive pricing

Mexico

Typical product categories:

• Automotive parts, electronics, appliances, textiles, and medical devices

Minimum order quantities (MOQs):

• Flexible MOQs, often starting from 200 units

Average turnaround time:

• Production lead time: 30–45 days
• Shipping time: 1–2 weeks, within North America

Cost:

• Moderate pricing: Higher than Asia, but offset by lower shipping costs and tariffs

United States

Typical product categories:

• Advanced electronics, medical devices, aerospace components, and specialized machinery

Minimum order quantities (MOQs):

• Very flexible MOQs, with the ability to produce small batches and prototypes

Average turnaround time:

• Production lead time: As short as 2–4 weeks
• Shipping time: 1–5 days domestically

Cost:

• Premium pricing: Higher costs reflect quality and speed

How Wayo makes custom product sourcing simple

With Wayo, you don't have to sift through dozens of potential custom product manufacturers to find the right one. We’ve built an extensive network of over 300 overseas factories with extensive domain experience in various products. All our manufacturers are pre-vetted for quality, experience, trustworthiness, and reliability. Plus, our on-the-ground bilingual team takes care of all the factory communication and logistics for you. 

You can order directly from our online product catalog, featuring everything from tech gadgets to customized accessories. With guaranteed quality, MOQs as low as 50 units, factory-direct prices, and turnaround times as fast as 2 weeks, you can get the best of all worlds with Wayo.

With Wayo’s AI-powered platform, you can:

• Easily design and customize your product using our Merch Design Studio
• Access a wide range of customization options, such as 2D embroidery, 3D puff embroidery, silkscreening, and more.
• See how different customization options affect the unit price of your product in real time with built-in auto-quotes
• Manage and track all your projects and orders using our all-in-one dashboard

If the product you’re looking for isn’t in our catalog, you can also request a fully custom product through our platform, with MOQs for most projects starting at 10,000 units.