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Production line sourcing with fewer surprises and stronger technical control.

CISH supports African manufacturers that need to source machinery, assemblies, controls, or line components without taking unnecessary procurement risk. We help define requirements, compare supplier offers properly, verify what will actually be delivered, and connect offshore sourcing decisions to real installation and production outcomes on the ground.

Who this is for

The right fit when your team needs buying support, not a black box.

First-time importers

Manufacturers sourcing from China for the first time and needing help with supplier filtering, contract structure, FAT, and shipping readiness.

Teams replacing part of a line

Plants buying a machine, module, or controls package rather than a full turnkey line, but still needing technical oversight to avoid mismatch with existing equipment.

Clients with a preferred vendor

Businesses that already know the supplier they want, but need an independent buyer-side representative to verify scope, quality, delivery realism, and FAT readiness.

Projects that need local accountability

Owners who want China pricing and manufacturing depth, while still having a partner in Africa who understands local installation, spares, duty, and commissioning realities.

Build your engagement

Pick the modules you need — no forced bundles.

ModuleDescriptionIndicative pricing
Supplier shortlist3–5 vetted candidates against your spec, with capability reportFixed fee from USD 2 500
Factory auditPhysical visit, photo report, certifications check, referencesFrom USD 1 800 per audit
Negotiation & contractEnglish/Mandarin contract, INCOTERMS, payment terms, IP protection% of contract value or fixed
FAT witnessingOn-site FAT, protocol against your spec, video record, signed reportFixed fee per day on site
Logistics & customsFreight booking, insurance, customs documentation supportCost-plus or fixed
Pre-shipment inspectionIndependent inspection before container loadsFixed fee per container
Translation & liaisonLive engineering meetings in Mandarin/EnglishHourly
How we protect you

The six most common China-procurement mistakes — and how we prevent them.

MISTAKE

Trusting the Alibaba "Gold Supplier" badge

Many are trading companies fronting for a factory you've never met.

Our move: Physical audit of every supplier before a cent is paid.

MISTAKE

Signing the supplier's "standard contract"

It will favour them. It always does.

Our move: Bilingual contract (English governs). Payment backloaded: 30% / 50% FAT / 20% SAT. Liquidated damages. Neutral arbitration.

MISTAKE

Skipping FAT to save a trip

Once the container is on the boat, your leverage is gone.

Our move: Video FAT is the floor. In-person FAT recommended above USD 500 000. We witness on your behalf.

MISTAKE

Discovering customs duty is wrong at the port

HS classification errors are common and expensive.

Our move: We validate HS codes before contract signing, not at clearance.

What we help clients source

  • Full machines and packaged line sections
  • Controls, drives, instrumentation, and automation hardware
  • Fabricated assemblies and machine frames
  • Retrofit components and replacement systems
  • Spare parts and planned support packages

Why total project cost matters more than machine price

The lowest quoted machine cost is often not the lowest project cost. Technical fit, FAT quality, shipping assumptions, installation readiness, spares availability, and local serviceability usually decide whether a sourcing decision was actually good business.

Commercial independence

We do not take commissions from suppliers.

Our income is fees from clients only. That matters because procurement advice stops being trustworthy the moment a sourcing partner is quietly being paid to prefer one supplier over another.

Our guarantee

If you ever discover that we received a payment from a supplier on your project that was not disclosed upfront, our full fee for that project will be refunded.

That is the only way this promise means anything commercially.

Our network

An audited network — not a catalogue of anyone with a website.

Suppliers enter our database only after:

  1. Physical factory audit — photo report, certifications, engineering interview
  2. Reference check — at least three completed projects, references contacted
  3. First-transaction validation — a real project completed on time, on spec, on budget

Suppliers can also be removed — for missed schedules, quality regression, or ownership changes that affect engineering depth. The database is a living document.

Our network depth is in: food & beverage processing · plastics and packaging · building materials · metal fabrication · agro-processing · material handling · automation and utilities.

Engineer reviewing equipment on a factory floor
Where procurement projects usually go wrong

The hidden gaps that create expensive rework later.

Weak specifications

If the RFQ is vague, suppliers will quote against different assumptions, and price comparisons become meaningless.

FAT treated as optional

Without a clear FAT and acceptance criteria, you discover missing features or quality issues when the machine is already on the boat.

No install reality check

Machines get bought as if they will exist alone, without anyone checking utilities, footprint, site constraints, or how the package will integrate with existing plant systems.

If your project is large enough that these issues would materially affect startup, it may be better handled as a Turnkey Production Line rather than as a pure sourcing engagement.

Frequently asked

Common questions on China sourcing.

These are usually the questions that sit between “we found a supplier” and “we are ready to commit money.” The answers matter because procurement problems become installation problems very quickly.

We look at factory capability, engineering depth, relevant references, build quality, willingness to support FAT, and whether the supplier can clearly own the scope being quoted. A supplier with a polished sales presence but weak factory evidence is not enough.
Yes. We can audit or technically review a preferred supplier, help tighten the commercial structure, and support FAT and delivery so your team is not relying only on the supplier's own narrative.
Yes. FAT support and pre-shipment verification are core parts of how we reduce sourcing risk. The earlier the acceptance logic is defined, the more useful those stages become.
By tightening specifications, comparing quotes on equivalent assumptions, checking scope exclusions, validating HS and logistics assumptions early, and connecting sourcing decisions to how the project will actually be installed and supported locally.
Yes. Many sourcing engagements lead into spare parts planning, repeat buys, or broader delivery support through Commissioning & Maintenance once the equipment is in service.
Reference work

Procurement and sourcing in practice.

Case study

China procurement & FAT rescue

A direct-buy line drifting off-spec, 80% paid. Recovered mid-project — net slip cut from 30+ to ~10 weeks.
12 min read

Chinese supplier audit checklist

What to verify on site, what to ignore, and the failure modes audits exist to catch.
11 min read

Importing a production line from China

The full 12-stage sequence and what to budget on top of FOB.

Already know what you want to buy?

Send us your specification, current quote set, or bill of materials. We will tell you whether you need a shortlist, a supplier audit, a FAT plan, or a full delivery structure.

Send Your Spec Read the sourcing framework →