Inner Product Sourcing
End-to-End Manufacturing Oversight in Vietnam
Helping U.S. teams manage their supply chains from concept to container.
contact@innersourcing.usSchedule a free call
Finding the right factory overseas isn’t simple, and getting it wrong is expensive.
Between unreliable suppliers, missed deadlines, language barriers, and unclear quality standards, too many U.S. companies lose money and momentum before their products even leave the port.
What used to work in China no longer does. Rising tariffs, higher labor costs, and unpredictable trade policies have pushed production prices up by double digits, while Vietnam’s exports to the U.S. have grown more than 300% in the past decade. The global manufacturing landscape is changing fast, and Vietnam is quickly stepping into China's role for products like apparel and consumer electronics.
Moving production to Vietnam lowers costs and keeps you out of tariff crossfire.
But moving production to Vietnam isn’t as easy as switching factories on a spreadsheet. You need boots on the ground - someone who can identify reliable manufacturers, negotiate fair pricing, and keep your production on track. Otherwise you risk wasted prototypes, missed shipping windows, and costly rework that eats your margin.
I make overseas manufacturing simple. From concept to container, I handle the factories, files, and follow-through so your products arrive on budget, on spec, and on time.
Factory Sourcing: Find and verify the right suppliers across Vietnam.
I identify and qualify primary manufacturers through on-site visits, capability assessments, and certification checks.
You get a factory comparison report with original manufacturer quotes, verified MOQs, factory contact info, sample evaluations, and an inspection photo deck.
Engineering Services: Adapt your design files for seamless production.
Each factory operates under its own mix of international standards and internal processes. I take the design files from your U.S. team and adapt them to match the chosen factory’s specific documentation requirements, and make sure your drawings, specs, and BOMs align perfectly before production begins.
You receive a consolidated pre-production report containing all finalized documentation sent to the factory.
Production Oversight and QC: Manage every stage of manufacturing through to shipment.
I coordinate directly with factory managers to track production milestones, verify material readiness, and ensure build quality at each phase. Communication, scheduling, and documentation are managed locally so issues are identified and resolved before they impact delivery or cost.
Inspections are conducted at key checkpoints including in-process (DUPRO), final (PSI), and any special inspections for your product category.
You receive regular oversight and QC reports that include production timeline, inspection schedule, corrective action summaries, and a nonconformance log, along with a final release note confirming shipment readiness.
Logistics Coordination: Oversee export readiness and freight handoff.
I coordinate directly with the factory and your freight forwarder to prepare the shipment for export. Packaging, labeling, and documentation are verified before pickup to ensure the goods move smoothly through customs and onto the vessel.
You receive final photos, a packing list, tracking details, and a final release note confirming the shipment has been cleared and handed over to the forwarder.
1. Brief
You share your product concept, requirements, and existing design documentation. Together we define success across cost, volume, lead time, material quality, and CTQ factors. I translate those priorities into a clear manufacturing scope for Vietnam, setting the foundation for sourcing and engineering alignment.
2. Shortlist
I source and qualify several (typically 2 to 6) candidate factories based on your requirements. Each manufacturer is vetted through on-site assessment and capability checks. I package all of these into a complete factory comparison report to help you choose the right manufacturer.
3. Specs
Once a factory is selected, I conduct a pre-production review to ensure all drawings, specifications, and BOMs align with the factory’s documentation standards.
You receive a pre-production report (PPR) which includes all of the finalized documentation sent to the factory, and confirms technical alignment and factory readiness before production begins.
4. Oversight
I manage communication and scheduling directly with the factory, tracking each production milestone and coordinating in-process inspections (DUPRO, PSI, or any special checks). Any nonconformances or corrective actions are logged and resolved locally.
You receive regular QC and progress reports detailing production status, inspection results, and corrective measures.
5. Handoff
After final inspection and approval, I confirm shipment readiness with both the factory and your freight forwarder. All packaging, labeling, and documentation are verified for export compliance.
You receive a handoff report including final photos, packing lists, tracking details, and a release note confirming the goods have been handed over for shipment.
Vietnam is the single best country in the world for manufacturing mid-complexity products. Their combination of low wages and a young, highly skilled workforce means that manufacturing in Vietnam will provide the best possible margin and quality for your products now and into the future.
As China shifts its focus towards higher-tech manufacturing processes, Vietnam is quickly becoming what China used to be: a manufacturing powerhouse for labor-intensive goods.
Vietnam's main exports include:
The current state of Vietnam's export profile is parallel to China across the board, and with China's rising wages and declining U.S. trade relations, the "China+1" strategy already implemented by many of the largest firms is rapidly gaining momentum.
The China+1 strategy refers to the diversification of previously China-dependent supply chains, which are becoming less reliable by the day as geopolitical tensions continue to rise. Vietnam is the best choice in securing these supply chains from this risk. With a nearly identical export profile, lower wages, a stable political environment, and geographic proximity, Vietnam is an obvious first choice for supply chain diversification.
With everything working in its favor, Vietnam is the place to be for the next chapter of global manufacturing. With China moving towards higher wages and more advanced products, and moving away from friendly U.S. trade relations, moving manufacturing and product sourcing to Vietnam will soon go from a good practice to a necessary one.
Vietnam vs. China
China has many benefits still working in its favor, particularly manufacturing sophistication and scale. However, for products like textiles, apparel, and consumer electronics, Vietnam achieves the same quality for a fraction of the cost. It has lower labor costs, a more favorable and predictable U.S. trade relationship, and a younger population which promises to increase Vietnam's manufacturing capabilities over the next few decades
Vietnam vs. Mexico
The U.S. imports more from Mexico than anywhere else in the world, and for good reason. Mexico has geographic proximity, zero tariffs under USMCA, and a well-established manufacturing base. Still, Mexico's labor costs are rising, and wages in urban manufacturing zones are several times those of Vietnam's industrial zones. Even after accounting for tariffs and shipping costs, Vietnam still provides lower unit costs for many product categories. The choice between Vietnam and Mexico comes down to product and priorities. Mexico is a great nearshore option for North America, but Vietnam wins on cost for labor-intensive product categories and offers a gateway to Asian supply chains and markets.
Vietnam vs. Southeast Asia
Vietnam vs. India
India has labor costs comparable to Vietnam, but its exports are weighted heavily towards services and raw materials. While it's possible to set up large-scale manufacturing in India for mid-complexity products at comparable margins, it takes a tremendous amount of effort compared to Vietnam's plug-and-play approach to foreign business. Vietnam already has a highly-skilled manufacturing workforce, and their export profile already closely matches China.
Jack Driscoll
U.S. systems engineer turned Vietnam-based manufacturing partner. Based full-time in HCMC, I work closely with factories across Vietnam to help bridge the gap between U.S. product teams and local manufacturers. My goal is to ensure U.S. buyers receive their products on time, within spec, and without surprises.
Before moving to Vietnam, my time as a systems engineer in the U.S. was spent primarily in manufacturing and test automation across a broad range of industries: semiconductor, oil and gas, aerospace, consumer electronics, and many more. During this time I was exposed to many manufacturing techniques, and along with them their problems, constraints, and failure modes. Now, I'm using that expertise to help U.S. companies find manufacturers in Vietnam which are trustworthy, reliable, and capable of producing goods that match U.S. quality standards.
Prior to my work in industry, I received a Bachelor's and Master's degree in experimental physics from the University of Texas at Arlington, where I performed research on the electronic structure of cutting-edge III-V semiconductor materials using electron momentum spectroscopy techniques.