Poorly Made in China: An Insider′s Account of the Tactics Behind China′s Production Game - Hardcover

Midler, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0470405589 ISBN 13: 9780470405581

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2009

Synopsis

Poorly Made in China chronicles the experiences of an American working for a U.S. outsourcing firm in Chinese manufacturing and highlights the disturbing and dangerous practice known as "quality fade"––the deliberate and secretive habit of widening profit margins through a reduction in the quality of materials over time. The author argues that U.S. importers don′t stand a chance against factory owners in China who are savvier and who have little to lose by placing American health and safety at risk. A well–written and impassioned narrative, Poorly Made in China is one insider′s account of the quality–fade tactics used by China in seven industries, including health and beauty care, diamonds, and construction. Poorly Made in China will sound an alarm that all of America should heed. Paul Midler (Scottsdale, AZ) has been working with China for close to two decades. He created China Advantage, a services firm, to assist American companies with their business objectives in East Asia. The author earned his MBA from the Wharton School and is a Mandarin speaker.

About this title

Review:

Awards Best Book 2009 ( The Economist ) Best Book for Business Owners ( Inc. )  Great Finance Book of 2009 ( Forbes )  Best of 2009 Business Book ( Library Journal )  "Midler has upended a lot of the assumptions about this factory for the world." ( Forbes )  “A must–read for people engaged in mainland business.” ( South China Morning Post )  “Important, timely and entertaining.” ( Taipei Times )  “Most of the people in Mr. Midler’s position would not dream of disclosing what they see.” ( The Economist )  “Manages to be both instructive and entertaining.” ( National Review )  “A fascinating, funny and important book.” ( Asia Times )  “An invaluable book for anyone considering doing business in China.” ( Epoch Times )  “A lively dissection of the cultural clash.” ( Malaysia’s The Star )  “You won’t look at the label ‘Made in China’ the same way.” ( Toronto Now )  “His warning is worth heeding – is China listening?” ( Business Times )  "Plenty of laugh–out–loud moments." ( Financial Times )  “Strongly recommended.” ( Bangkok Post )

‘...provides an interesting alternative to the hagiographic view of globalisation...′ (Wilmott.com, September 2009). ‘...comes closer than any author to explaining the dysfunctional business culture behind such deadly product scandals...’ .  (Far Eastern Economic Review, September 2009).

From the Back Cover:

Praise for Poorly Made in China "This fast–paced travelogue through the world of Chinese manufacturing is scary, fascinating, and very funny. Midler is not only a knowledgeable guide to the invisible underbelly of the global economy, he is a sympathetic and astute observer of China, its challenges, and its people. A great read." —Pietra Rivoli, author of The Travels of a T–Shirt in the Global Economy "Paul Midler takes us for a ride through the fastest–growing economy in the world, revealing what can—and sometimes does—go wrong when U.S. companies shift production to China. Working in the heart of China′s export hub, in the country′s southern region, he has the advantage of a front–row seat to the no–holds–barred games played between manufacturers and importers. He introduces us to a cast of real–life characters and tells his story with a mix of affection and skepticism for what is taking place in China today. Midler delivers a revealing and often funny tale of life and commerce in a country whose exports touch nearly everyone on the planet." —Sara Bongiorni, author of A Year Without ′Made in China′

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0470405589
• ISBN 13: 9780470405581
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256