Product
Aluminium blind rivets: 3.2x12.7mm or 1/8 x ½“ Packaging: 500 pcs/box
Customer
Large Indian building materials wholesaler 20M+ USD Revenue
Volumes
300+ millions pcs per year / full 20’ container per month
Achieved
€0,6M in annual savings
0.3% defect rate (previously 6%)
27% increase in sales
Sourcing Rivets from China
can be hard
Over the years, our client struggled to maintain good quality at a competitive price point while working with various manufacturers. Frequent issues, such as batch-to-batch quality variations, led to dissatisfied customers, resulting in lower sales
Inconsistent Breaking
Previous rivets suffered from inconsistent mandrel breaking, leading to protruding ends
Bad Sizing
Existing rivet sizes on the market failed to meet their customers’ preferences.
Quality Issues
Decreased sales because of quality issues and failure to meet precise requirements.
Bad Impact on Sales
Decreased sales because of quality issues and failure to meet precise requirements.
What has been done?
Step 1 / August 2023
We identified current problems
& set clear goals
Together with customer, we created clear documents with specific quality standards and ideal characteristics for the rivets. We set a goal to reduce defect rate to <1% (10 in 1,000 units) and find a trustworthy supplier who would allow regular inspections and audits.
Step 2 / September 2023
We started an initial sourcing process and pre-selected suppliers
We shortlisted 3 suppliers based on quotes and offerings, checked samples and visited their facilities. We then selected the most transparent and cooperative one, who welcomed our help with quality control and third-party inspections.
Step 3 / September 2023
We developed a 3D model, mold, and prepared materials for production
Working closely with the supplier, we created a new 3D model and mold for the ideal rivet, ensuring it met the customer’s specifications. The initial test production of 20,000 units was successfully completed to test the rivets and production process.
Step 4 / September 2023
We produced samples and evaluated mass-production quality
Following successful tests, we placed a sample order of 2 million units to evaluate mass production and implement sample pickup and testing protocols.
Step 5 / February 2024
We scaled production to 10 million pieces a month and established a quality inpection protocol.
As a result of excellent quality, after the customer had received the sample shipment, we scaled production to 10 million pieces per month, later increasing to a full 20’ containerloads, 26 million pieces per month. BOA handles supervision, quality control and pre-shipment inspections
Share Your Inquiry"We were stuck with quality problems from our old Chinese suppliers. Buying Office Asia found us a new manufacturing partner, solved our quality issues completely, and now manages our monthly shipments flawlessly. Somehow the price is still cheaper than we paid before."
Nikhil, Managing Director
Large Scale Building Supplies Wholesale
The Strategic Impact:
From a Problem Product to a Profit Center
This partnership did more than just fix a quality issue; it transformed the client's most problematic product into a reliable and profitable cornerstone of their business. They continue to work with Buying Office Asia for several key strategic reasons:
Continuous Quality Assurance
& Brand Protection:
The client's original problem was inconsistent quality that damaged their reputation. BOA's ongoing management, including supervision and pre-shipment inspections for every single container, acts as a permanent insurance policy. This guarantees that the defect rate stays near zero (from 6% down to 0.3%), protecting their brand and customer trust.
A Superior, Custom-Designed Product:
We didn't just find a new supplier; we co-developed a better, custom rivet with a new 3D model and mold. This gives the client a differentiated product with superior performance (like consistent mandrel breaking) that off-the-shelf alternatives can't match, allowing them to command a premium in their market.
Driving Sales & Profitability:
By solving the quality issues and securing a 23% lower purchase price, the client was able to regain customer confidence. This directly led to a 27% increase in sales and over €0.6M in annual savings, turning a loss-leader into a significant profit driver.
Effortless Supply Chain Management:
The client's expertise is in wholesale and distribution, not managing Chinese manufacturing. They continue to partner with BOA because we handle the entire complex process. They simply place an order and trust that a perfectly inspected, high-quality container of 26 million rivets will arrive on schedule, every month.
Sourcing Blind Rivets from China became profitable, safe, and easy
We were able to source these rivets for a 23% cheaper price while still improving the quality including our services fees.
Higher Profit &
Premium Category
Higher profit margins thanks to significantly better, consistent quality and premium pricing.
Increased Sales
& Better Business
✓ $0,6M in annual savings
✓ 0.3% defect rate (6% before)
✓ 27%increase in sales
