Client Objective:
A leading global manufacturer sought Dragon Sourcing’s expertise to identify and pre-qualify suppliers of finger joint wood products made from Western Red Cedar in China and Southeast Asia. The client required partners with proven production capability, quality standards, and cost-efficiency to support their growing demand for high-quality engineered softwood products.
Project Scope & Geographic Focus
Regions targeted:
China
Vietnam
Indonesia
Malaysia
Thailand
Products sourced:
VG Bevel Finger Jointed Edge-Glued Western Red Cedar (16’ & 20’)
VG Finger Jointed Edge-Glued V Rustic Shiplap (16’ & 20’)
STK Rougher Headed Boards (16’ & 20’)
Veneer VG Three-Sides Boards (16’ & 20’)
The project followed a structured two-stage approach to identify, evaluate, and shortlist capable suppliers.
Stage 1: Supplier Pre-Qualification
Demand Analysis
Defined product specs, volume targets, price points, and delivery requirements in collaboration with the client.Supply Market Research
Leveraged Dragon Sourcing’s proprietary database, B2B directories, trade fair listings, and chamber networks to identify 57 relevant manufacturers.Phone Pre-Screening
Used a set of critical criteria—such as production capabilities, proximity to ports, and English-speaking staff—to filter out non-qualified suppliers.Request for Information (RFI)
Sent RFI documents to 17 shortlisted suppliers. 11 valid responses were received and assessed using a comprehensive scorecard.Scoring & Ranking
Suppliers were evaluated on five key parameters:Business Information (40%)
Production Capability (40%)
Quality Control (10%)
Social Responsibility (5%)
Cooperation Willingness (5%)
Stage 1 Outcomes
Total suppliers identified: 57
Suppliers who passed pre-screening: 17
Valid RFI responses received: 11
Top-Ranked Suppliers:
Supplier CN01 (China): Highest score (95/100), with advanced capabilities—9 finger joint lines, 80 M³ daily capacity, and extensive export experience.
Supplier IND08 (Indonesia): Strong production capacity (2,000 M³/day), modern facilities, and consistent quality—ideal for scaling operations.
Supplier CN02 (China): High production and quality control metrics, but lower social responsibility disclosures.
Supplier Rejection Insights
41 suppliers were eliminated at the phone screening stage due to:
Lack of softwood processing capabilities
Inaccessibility or disinterest
Excessive distance from sea ports
6 RFI rejections due to:
Late or non-submissions
Loss of interest after reviewing RFI details
Key Learnings
Localization is key: Translating RFIs and conducting phone screenings in local languages ensured higher response rates.
Criteria-based filtering works: Using must-have questions during phone screening saved significant time downstream.
Supplier readiness varies widely: Especially in Southeast Asia, many factories lacked the required experience or infrastructure.
Next Steps
The next phase includes:
Factory audits (if needed)
Sample collection and testing
Final supplier selection and contract negotiation
Dragon Sourcing will continue to assist the client through factory visits and stakeholder meetings to ensure smooth onboarding of the chosen suppliers.
Conclusion
This case study highlights the importance of a structured, data-driven sourcing approach when dealing with technically demanding products like finger joint wood components. Dragon Sourcing’s regional knowledge, extensive supplier networks, and rigorous vetting processes enabled the client to access reliable suppliers in both China and Southeast Asia—ensuring cost-efficiency, quality, and business continuity.
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