Synopses & Reviews
A true story about manufacturing in China—now in a new, updated edition"Paul Midler's is the ultimate insider's look at China and its dubious manufacturing, by a man who knows the language and, more importantly, knows the subtext of every deal, every gesture, every nuance. I have great admiration for the breadth and depth of this account of being an American middleman in China today, and for the way it humanizes the whole awful business."
—PAUL THEROUX, author of Riding the Iron Rooster: By Train Through China
"This is the story of the world's crappy stuff and the surreally entertaining culture clash that lies behind it. It's funny and illuminating, and I want you to read it!"
—MARY ROACH, author of Stiff and Packing for Mars
"Poorly Made in China is an insightful, often hilarious account of how Chinese manufacturers transformed their country into the world's export powerhouse by hook and by crook. Midler suggests that understanding Chinese business strategies and tactics could benefit not only U.S. business, but also our political leaders. For all of us, his book is a perfect guide."
—ELIZABETH ECONOMY, Director of Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
"Few books on China and its economy are as enlightening as this. This is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to understand how China's export industry really works and indeed how China works."
—JASPER BECKER, author of Hungry Ghosts: Mao's Secret Famine
"Every Wal-Mart needs a warning label, and Midler, nailing the deceit and dishonesty of Chinese manufacturers, provides it. You will never see another 'Made in China' label without thinking of this masterpiece."
—GORDON CHANG, author of The Coming Collapse of China
"Poorly Made in China is not merely about faltering product quality out of China. One of its broader themes is of people who promise one thing and then deliver another. This is a book about Chinese obfuscation and subterfuge. It is about gaming, strategy, and tactics."
—From the Foreword by Arthur Waldron, Lauder Professor of International Relations, University of Pennsylvania
Synopsis
Poorly Made in China is the narrative account of an American who helped facilitate China's booming relationship with the US. The book details compelling and, at times, alarming accounts of seven distinct US-China relationships that author Paul Midler has managed.
Midler addresses a disturbing trend he refers to as quality fade--the deliberate and secretive habit of widening profit margins through a reduction in the quality of materials. US importers usually never notice this is happening; downward changes are subtle but progressive. The author sees this as pervasive in China, with no end in sight. The result is faulty or even dangerous products being sold in the US. In one example, an American company outsourced the production of the aluminum systems used to support tons of concrete in the construction of high-rise commercial buildings to China. There, the supplier elected to reduce the specifications, and the amount of aluminum used in the supports. When the production error was caught, one aluminum part was found to be weighing less than 90% of its intended weight.
While there are many books out on China, most fail to appeal to a broad audience, relying primarily on heavy statistics or abstract history lessons in their content. This book is a narrative account written from an insider's perspective that offers business lessons and constructive reflections on the world's most dynamic economy.
Synopsis
An insider reveals what can—and does—go wrong when companies shift production to China
In this entertaining behind-the-scenes account, Paul Midler tells us all that is wrong with our effort to shift manufacturing to China. Now updated and expanded, Poorly Made in China reveals industry secrets, including the dangerous practice of quality fade—the deliberate and secret habit of Chinese manufacturers to widen profit margins through the reduction of quality inputs. U.S. importers don’t stand a chance, Midler explains, against savvy Chinese suppliers who feel they have little to lose by placing consumer safety at risk for the sake of greater profit. This is a lively and impassioned personal account, a collection of true stories, told by an American who has worked in the country for close to two decades. Poorly Made in China touches on a number of issues that affect us all.
About the Author
PAUL MIDLER has over twenty years of experience related to Asia, and in his manufacturing career, he has worked directly with hundreds of Chinese suppliers in a broad range of industries. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a master's in international studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute. Poorly Made in China is his first book.
Table of Contents
Foreword (ArthurWaldron).
Introduction.
CHAPTER 1 Vanishing Act.
CHAPTER 2 Trouble Is My Business.
CHAPTER 3 “All We Need Is Your Sample”
CHAPTER 4 Vice President of Disadvantaged Neighborhoods.
CHAPTER 5 “I Do Now”.
CHAPTER 6 Lurid Carnival of Global Commerce.
CHAPTER 7 And That's a Good Thing.
CHAPTER 8 Grains of Toil.
CHAPTER 9 The China Game.
Chapter 10 The Seven Steps of Problem Solving.
CHAPTER 11 Counterfeit Culture.
CHAPTER 12 No Animal Testing.
CHAPTER 13 Joint Venture Panacea.
CHAPTER 14 Take the Long Way Home.
CHAPTER 15 Lucky Diamonds.
CHAPTER 16 Trophy Trash.
CHAPTER 17 “You Heard Me Wrong”.
CHAPTER 18 “Price Go Up!”
CHAPTER 19 You Wouldn't Want to Be There.
CHAPTER 20 Of Course, You Would Think So.
CHAPTER 21 The New Factory.
CHAPTER 22 Profit Zero.
Afterword.
Acknowledgments.