[The A to Z of Product Manufacturing and Packaging] #1. Finding a Factory: How to Create a Product from Scratch
This content is part of
<The A to Z of Product Manufacturing and Packaging>
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Don't forget to bring this!
- How to Find a Manufacturer to Bring Your Dream Product to Life
- Criteria for Choosing the Best Manufacturer for Your Product
- Useful Tips for Finding and Selecting a Manufacturer
That idea you’ve only ever imagined in your mind can become a reality
Are you eager to launch a funding campaign but feeling stuck because you don’t know “where or how” to have your product made? Don’t worry. We’ve prepared an article to guidemakers on how to find a manufacturer. This will help you take the first step toward turning any idea into a product.
1. How to Find a Manufacturer Who Can Make Your Product
1-1. Finding a Manufacturer You Can Communicate With Online, Without Time or Location Constraints
If you’re comfortable using a computer, look for manufacturers. You can search for manufacturers online using keywords—try search engines likeN*aver, G*, or Da*, or check out online forums and Communities.
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The image below shows an example of an actual search using the keywords mentioned above. You can see that the top three links all lead to platforms connecting users with apparel manufacturers.
As shown here, when searching on portal sites, highly accurate information typically appears at the top, so the links directly below the search barare likely related to manufacturers producing that product category. Even if they don’t appear at the top, if you see links to manufacturers’ websites in that field, be sure to check them out. These may be sites operated by manufacturers specifically to receive production requests.
1-2. Follow in the footsteps of those who’ve tried it before: Find verified manufacturers through reviews
By following reviews? Look for them on search engines orin startup communities and forums with large membership bases and a wealth of information [e.g., “It Hurts, So I’m the Boss,”Seller Ocean(community)].
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(e.g., comparing garment factories, recommendations for printing companies)
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With the same mindset as a maker, posts where someone asked a question and the replies or reviews . You can also find posts on blogs and social media that compare various manufacturers. By following the blogs of business owners who distribute or sell products similar to yours, you can learn not only about reviews of manufacturers but also about their experiences and thoughts after collaborating with them. This will help you identify what’s needed when placing a manufacturing order and establish your criteria for selecting a manufacturer in advance.
1-3. Finding Manufacturers Nationwide: Using the Korean Standard Industrial Classification
If you want to find all makers nationwide that handle the product category you’re interested in, follow the manufacturing classification provided by Statistics Koreaand follow the steps below to find manufacturing facilities.
1) Go to the Statistics Classification Portal.
2) Click <Economic Classification>.
3) Go to Standard Classification I: Korean Standard Industrial Classification.
4) Click “View Classification Details (Explanatory Notes)” on the left.
5) Click “C. Manufacturing (10–34).”
6) Check the manufacturing classification for the product you plan to make.
7) Search for the exact name of the manufacturing classification you found on a portal site (N**) or NiceBizInfo.
8) You can review the manufacturers listed in the search results.
When I searched this way, I found 1,081 pages of food manufacturers alone. (As of January 2023) As shown here, as long as manufacturer information is registered on a portal site (N**) or NICE Business Info, you can identify the names and locations of all relevant manufacturing companies nationwide.
TIP) If the company’s contact information isn’t listed, go to 114ONand search for the company’s name.
1-4. How to Find a Manufacturer Using the Product You Have: Checking Product Information
While some manufacturers post sample images on their official websites, others only show samples during in-person meetings. However, even if you see a sample, it’s not easy to determine whether it’s durable or of high quality.
So, what if the product you’re using is actually a manufacturer’s sample? You’d likely be able to gauge its quality much more easily. I’ll show you.
What you need to know "the front and back of the product" or "the product information on the packaging". If you’re a maker who wants to create hand cream, take out the hand cream in your bag right now and check the back label. It’s highly likely that information such as ingredients, distributor, and manufacturerwill be listed there. Alternatively, search online and visit the product’s detailed sales page. The manufacturer may be listed in the product information disclosure at the top or bottom of the page.
1-5. If you want to see and touch the products yourself, visit a manufacturing hub
Why not visit a product manufacturing plant or an area where specific materials are concentrated?? You can search online using keywords like the ones below. Of course, not all products are produced in specific clusters, so your search might not yield any results.
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In Korea, there are often areas where shops and factories that sellonly a single raw material or specialize in a single sector are clustered together. Factories are usually located near markets so they can source materials directly and manufacture products on-site. For example, there’s the well-known Dongdaemun Fabric Market and the nearby garment factories.
You can find areas where manufacturers or suppliers of specific categories are concentrated, as listed below.
| Category | High-Traffic Areas |
Products Handled |
|---|---|---|
| Publishing | Chungmuro/Euljiro Printing Alley | Publishing, Printing, Paper |
| Defense Industry Market | ||
| Fashion Accessories | Dongdaemun General Market | Fabrics, Apparel/Accessories, and Supplies |
| Seongsu Handmade Shoe Alley | Handmade Shoe Factories and Various Accessories | |
| Seongnae-dong Accessory Street | Imitation Accessories | |
| Jongno Precious Metals Market | Gold and Jewelry Accessories | |
| Groceries, Medicines | Gyeongdong Market | Traditional Korean Medicinal Herbs, Imported Medicinal Herbs |
| Garak Market | Agricultural and Marine Products | |
| Majang-dong Livestock Market | Livestock Products | |
| Machinery and Electronics | Guro Machinery and Tools Complex | Machinery, Tools, and Parts; Electrical Supplies; Motors; Electronic Products |
| Munlae Machinery and Metal District | ||
| Yongsan Electronics Market | ||
| Others | Changsin-dong Stationery and Toy Street | Stationery, Toys |
| Bangsan Market | Candles/diffusers/plaster air freshener materials, baking supplies, packaging materials such as boxes, bags, shopping bags, and plastic wrap, wallpaper, flooring materials, etc. |
1-6. Exploring Manufacturer Platforms That Help You Find Manufacturers Based on Your Criteria
Are you hoping someone will find a manufacturer that perfectly matches your criteria? Try using a platform to connect manufacturers and makers.
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Here are the manufacturer platforms that appeared when I searched using the keywords above.
*Descriptions of each platform were taken from their respective website slogans.
| Platform Name | Description |
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| Technician Forest | A manufacturing service platform with 17,535 manufacturing experts |
| CAPA | A manufacturing matching platform connecting with over 10,000 domestic and international clients |
| Bolt & Nut | A curated platform for manufacturing experts by product category |
| MakerVille | A sourcing platform for domestic manufacturers with no quality concerns |
| Shaple | An online manufacturing service platform that allows you to compare quotes from 210,000 factories |
| MakeAll | A comprehensive manufacturing platform organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and operated by the Korea Startup Promotion Agency |
| Smart Industrial Complex Sharing Platform | An online manufacturing platform service organized by the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation |
However, the platforms listed here are just a few among the countless ones nationwide. If you’d like to discover more, try searching for the keywords above on various portal sites, online forums, and Communities.
2. How to Choose the Right Manufacturer for Your Product
Have you found some manufacturers but are wondering how to choose a good one? Here is list of criteria for selecting a manufacturer. First, select the criteria that matter most to you, then reach out to specific manufacturers. This will make the selection process much easier.
| Manufacturer Selection Criteria at a Glance |
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| [Production Volume] Productsin bulk or small quantities . |
| [Production Frequency] continuous or one-timeproduction |
| [Client (Recipient)] We would prefer a manufacturer. |
| [Portfolio] Whether or not or not . |
| [Facilities] Whetheryou have or not. |
| [Raw Materials/Supplies]Is manufacturing using specialraw materials and supplies required/not required |
| [Manufacturer Location] Company (or home)/Raw material market. |
| [Manufacturing Plant Location] Domestic/Overseasis preferred |
| [Manufacturing/Quality Control Standards] A manufacturer that complies with specific standards such as HACCP, ISO, and GMP Required/Not required. |
Please select a manufacturer based on your product’s production volume and frequency.
| Production Volume |
We plan to produce in large or small quantities |
| Production Frequency |
We plan to produce continuously or as a one-time run. |
- Manufacturers that primarily work with businesses often handle only mass production, so some may not accept small batches or one-time production runs.
- If you’re unsure about the scale of your production—whether in terms of quantity or number of runs—the quickest way to find out is to ask the manufacturer directly. Please keep in mind that standards may vary slightly from one manufacturer to another.
Check the manufacturer’s main clients (customers) and whether they can provide production samples.
| Clients (Customers) |
We’d prefer a manufacturer that primarily deals withbusinesses and individuals. |
| Portfolio |
It’s fine whether or not you havemanufacturing samples. |
- If the maker supplies well-known brands, you can easily examine samples at supermarkets or department stores to gauge the quality. If the maker primarily works with individual customers, they’re more likely to communicate in a way that’s easy for creators—who may not be familiar with manufacturing terminology or processes—to understand.
- Manufacturing samples may be available on the manufacturer’s website, or you can request to see them during a meeting. Of course, some manufacturers may not have samples available.
Consider whether you have any specific manufacturing processes or raw materials in mind.
| Facilities |
Do you have any specific machinery or manufacturing processes in mind ? |
| Raw Materials/Supplies |
Do you require manufacturing using special raw materials or supplies? |
- If you’re unsure what materials to use for the product you want to make or what manufacturing processes are involved, discuss these details with the manufacturer during a meeting.
- Even among manufacturers in the same product category, facilities and equipment can vary by plant, and the materials they handle may differ. If you want everything—from production to packaging—to be done in a single plant, you’ll need to confirm that the facility is equipped for the packaging process, right?
Consider the manufacturer’s location.
| Manufacturer Location | It would be preferable to be located near the company (or home)and the raw materials market. |
| Manufacturing Plant Location | Domestic/Overseasis preferred |
- If you’d like to establish a long-term business relationship, I recommend a maker. Since you’ll likely need to communicate in person frequently throughout the manufacturing process, it’s best to choose a location close to your company (or home).
- If you need to supply raw materials to the manufacturing plant yourself, I recommend a location. Since separate shipping costs for materials may apply, I recommend a manufacturing plant located near the market.
- If low labor costs are a priority,I recommend a manufacturer. However, quick communication may be difficult if an accident or issue occurs.
- If prompt communication is your top priority, I recommend manufacturers. Even if you can’t reach them by phone, you can visit in person, so the likelihood of communication problems is low, but labor costs may be relatively higher than overseas.
If quality is a top priority, verify that the manufacturer complies with relevant manufacturing and quality control standards.
| Manufacturing/Quality Control Standards | HACCP, ISO, GMPWe need a manufacturer that meets specific standards such as these / It’s not required |
For example, if your product is a food item, we recommend working with a maker that has HACCP-certified facilities, as certified by the Korea Food Safety Management Certification Institute.
Additional Tips
- Be sure to compare quotes from at least three different manufacturers. Prices can vary even for the same materials and similar equipment.
- If there are reviews of manufacturers on portal sites or online forums, be sure to check them out. They’ll definitely be helpful.
- If you want to find out what information is required for a manufacturing request, visit the manufacturer’s website where you can submit a request via an online form. The information you need to fill out on that form is usually what’s required for the request.
- If there’s anything you’re unsure about, be sure to actively ask questions—whether online, through acquaintances, or directly from the maker. There’s bound to be someone who’s already walked the same path as you.
Are you ready to bring the product you’ve always dreamed of to life?
So far, we’ve covered how to find makers both online and offline, as well as provided a list to help you find the right factory to produce your product. We hope this makes your journey into manufacturing a little easier. We’ll see you in our next post: “How Beginners Can Talk to Factory Owners Like Experts.” Thank you.
Written by Nam Hyun-sol