Begin with the component and the customer
A country-level comparison is only a starting point. The practical question is whether a particular supplier and delivery route can meet your specification, order pattern and commercial requirements.
You may be developing an additional source rather than replacing an existing supplier. State that objective early so the qualification plan matches it.
Compare complete delivered costs
Include material, manufacturing, tooling, inspection, packing, transport and the stock needed to support lead time. Account for qualification work and the coordination required on both sides.
An energy-intensive process may justify investigation, but the production price alone does not determine the value of the sourcing decision.
Consider the rhythm of demand
Frequent changes and urgent requirements can be difficult to accommodate over a longer delivery route. Discuss demand stability, first-order lead time, repeat orders and the effect of batch sizes.
A supplementary supplier, planned inventory or a different component selection may be more appropriate than moving all requirements to one source.
Clarify constraints before supplier selection
Identify customer approvals, confidentiality needs, destination requirements and any restrictions relevant to the component. Resolve specialist questions with the appropriate people before committing to the route.
Make the first step manageable
Choose a defined enquiry or component, assess the supplier options and establish a qualification plan. Use evidence from that work to decide whether to expand.
Hongdu can support supplier matching as a standalone assignment, helping your team assess the options while retaining its purchasing decisions.