Manufacturer search in Vietnam for an American kitchen cabinet company
51 manufacturers identified, 13 qualified and visited over four days in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. RiverRun started production with two of them – and paid only for the steps it needed.
RiverRun Cabinetry (Classic Distribution Inc.)
2019–2022
Vietnam, then Malaysia, Indonesia and Lithuania
Manufacturer search, factory visits and market support
The challenge
Classic Distribution wanted to move part of RiverRun’s premium kitchen cabinet production from China to Vietnam. An earlier set-up through an agent had missed price and quality targets. The requirements were demanding: production to RiverRun’s specification, capacity to grow from a few containers to up to 20 a month, US import rules such as TSCA Title VI, colour control with spectrophotometers, and clear labour and environmental standards.
Our approach
- Step 1 – Broad search: a long list of cabinet and furniture manufacturers as the basis for an early Go/No Go.
- Step 2 – Qualification: direct contact with every candidate on capacity, certifications, quality control and management.
- Step 3 – Meeting programme: four days of factory visits in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with local project management, interpretation and notes per manufacturer.
- Follow-up: a summary report with observations and recommendations, and support in the first contract talks.
- Continuation: the same three steps in Malaysia and Indonesia (2020), and in Lithuania for Classic Distribution’s hotel interior projects, with a four-day meeting programme and support in the first contract talks. Market support for a test order for sister company MillRock.
Results and deliverables
51 manufacturers identified; 13 qualified and visited.
RiverRun started production with two manufacturers after the project.
In Lithuania, eight manufacturers were visited and Classic Distribution started production with one of them.
Every step ended with a clear Go/No Go – the client only paid for the steps that were needed.
What do you need to move forward?
20 minutes, free of charge. We understand your situation and goals, give concrete guidance on the spot and assess together whether we can help. If there is a fit, the next step can be a Process Review.