Sourcing
The useful comparison is not “China vs local”. It is landed cost, lead time and risk — and on a small order, the answer can surprise you.
Key takeaways
- China usually wins on 100–10,000 pieces; on 10 pieces, freight and inspection can erase the saving.
- Compare landed cost, not part price. DDP is the only clean comparison with a local quote.
- The biggest risks are the first batch, IP and communication — not the price.
- A paid sample plus a first-article report is the cheapest due diligence you can do.
- If your RFQ requires ISO 9001, use a certified local shop.
1. Landed cost, with two worked examples
Below is an illustrative aluminum bracket, 250 g each, 6061-T6, no finishing. The numbers are planning figures, not a quote; they show how the comparison changes with quantity.
| Line | 10 pieces | 100 pieces |
|---|---|---|
| China part price | $28/pc = $280 | $18/pc = $1,800 |
| Air freight | $120 | $180 |
| Duty at 7.5% | $21 | $135 |
| Brokerage | $60 | $60 |
| Inspection / FAI | $150 | $150 |
| Your time (6 h at $50) | $300 | $300 |
| Landed total | $931 | $2,625 |
| Landed per part | $93 | $26 |
| Local shop price | $55/pc = $550 | $42/pc = $4,200 |
Illustrative only. Duty rate, freight and inspection vary by part, country and Incoterm.
At 10 pieces, the Chinese part is more expensive landed than the local quote. At 100 pieces, it is about 37% cheaper. That is the honest shape of the comparison: the setup and freight are fixed, so quantity decides whether the labor advantage survives.
2. Lead time is a calendar, not a machining number
| Stage | Typical | What can move it |
|---|---|---|
| Quote + DFM | 16 hours | Missing drawing callouts; material question |
| Prototype | 5–10 working days | Titanium, tight tolerance, cosmetic finish |
| Production | 7–15 working days | Material stock, finishing, quantity |
| Air freight | 3–6 business days | Customs, remote address, DDP paperwork |
| Sea freight | 25–35 days | Port congestion, sailing schedule |
A 5-day machining job can still be a 3-week door-to-door order.
Ask for the date from drawing approval, and the assumptions behind it. “2–3 weeks” is not a date; a date plus the material and finishing assumptions is.
3. The risks that actually bite
| Risk | What it looks like | How to reduce it |
|---|---|---|
| First batch drift | Sample is good, batch is not | First article on CMM before the run; retained sample |
| IP | Drawing forwarded or photographed | NDA, access list, no client names, segregated production |
| Communication | Slow replies, unclear DFM | One named engineer; 16-hour reply commitment |
| Certification | ISO required, supplier says “yes” then cannot prove it | Ask for the certificate and expiry date; walk away if vague |
| Tariff / duty | DDP quote excludes a new tariff | Get the duty rate and assumptions in writing |
| Freight damage | Thin walls, cosmetic faces | Packaging spec; photos before shipment |
4. When local wins
- ISO 9001 or regulated work. A certificate is a gate, not a nice-to-have.
- Same-day engineering support. If the line stops, proximity matters.
- Very small urgent orders. The 10-piece example above is real: freight and inspection can make China more expensive.
- High-volume repeat production. Freight, inventory and coordination can erase the labor gap.
5. When China wins
- Prototypes and low volume. No MOQ, 5–10 day parts, real DFM feedback.
- 100–10,000 pieces with a stable drawing. The setup is spread; the labor advantage survives.
- Supplier overflow. A second source when the local shop is full.
- Cost-sensitive production. Where the drawing is fixed and the finish is standard.
6. How to trial a Chinese supplier without betting the project
- Send one drawing and ask for a DDP price and a date.
- Ask for the last three first-article reports.
- Ask what they do not have — ISO, 5-axis, in-house finishing.
- Buy one sample part and check the CMM report.
- Only then release the batch.
7. What GY does and does not have
We are a 36-person shop in Dongguan: 32 machining centres (19 four-axis), 18 lathes, 10 Swiss-type machines, six sinker EDMs, CMM first article, 16-hour quotes, no MOQ. We do not hold ISO 9001 and we do not have 5-axis. If either is required, we will say so before you send the drawing.
CNC machining China · Cost calculator · Supplier checklist · Shipping and Incoterms
FAQ
Is CNC machining in China always cheaper?
No. On a 10-piece order, freight, duty, inspection and your time can make the landed cost higher than a local quote. At 100–10,000 pieces the labor and overhead advantage usually wins.
What is the biggest risk with a Chinese supplier?
Not the price — the first batch, IP and communication. A first-article report, NDA and a paid sample remove most of it.
How do I compare a China quote with a local quote?
Compare landed cost: part price + freight + duty + brokerage + inspection + your time. Ask for DDP so the number includes freight and duty.
How long does shipping take?
Express air is typically 3–6 business days; sea freight 25–35 days. Add material, machining and finishing before that.
Do I need to visit the factory?
Not for a first order. Ask for a video walk-through, the machine list, the last three first-article reports and a sample part.
What if I need ISO 9001?
Then a Chinese shop without it is the wrong supplier. We do not hold ISO 9001; we say so before you send a drawing.