Events

Audio Manufacturing Options Outside China
Vietnam

August 31, 2022
9:00 AM Pacific (12:00 PM Eastern)

Overview

The Audio Product Education Institute (APEI), an initiative of the Audio Engineering Society (AES), presents another valuable session to assess the manufacturing alternatives outside of China. This time, APEI’s Supply Chain and Sourcing education pillar is promoting a webinar focused on what is widely regarded as one of the most attractive and convenient options for audio manufacturing in Asia – Vietnam.

It’s proximity to China and logistical facilities with close access to parts supply via air, sea, or land, make it a natural destination for those looking to expand its operations or even establish a China+1 strategy. Most sourcing specialists have been on a mission to find alternative vendors outside China ever since the US imposed heavy tariffs in 2018. But in the preceding years, pricing of Chinese products had already began to ramp up leading many manufacturers to explore viable alternatives in Asia.

For over 20 years audio companies established consistent operations in Vietnam, and manufacturing was in place until very recently, when there has been a tsunami of speaker and audio OEM/ODMs expanding satellite factories through the country. Purchasing departments everywhere have been given their marching orders to diversify the geopolitical mix of where products are sourced from. Many welcome Chinese transplants in Vietnam and elsewhere, just without the tariffs.

Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula and is bordered by China to the North, Laos and Cambodia to the West, and part of Thailand to the Southwest. Vietnam’s total population is 95 million. The capital city has been Hanoi since the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976, while the largest city is Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Da Nang city and port is in central Vietnam Since 2000, Vietnam’s economic growth rate has been among the highest in the world and Vietnam’s production base has matured. There are many international flights to Vietnam from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Philippines to the main airports in Hanoi and Saigon. In central Vietnam, Da Nang’s industrial parks are likely to attract audio factories. Vietnam is attracting over 40 Billion US dollars in foreign direct investment per year. South Korea, Singapore, Japan and China are the top investors in Vietnam.

What are the differences of manufacturing in Vietnam?

In this webinar, Mike Klasco, CEO, Menlo Scientific, and Dave Lindberg, CEO, DB Enterprises, will host audio companies manufacturing from the region and discuss their experience and perspectives for short and long term. The session will also debate the broad challenges in the supply chain caused by the pandemic lockdowns and rising cost of goods from China, the dynamics of the global logistics, and the challenges in finding parts suppliers and manufacturing outside of China.

The webinar will be followed by a live Q&A sessions with all presenters.

Originally from Vancouver Canada but embedded in China manufacturing since 1995, Bruce Crompton quickly gained considerable experience in dealing with business development and product management in Asia. Employed or consulting, he supported local manufacturing and North American companies, and managed import/export trading in multiple industries. In 2015 he was hired by Hansong Technology in China as Product Development manager, and appointed General Manager for Hansong’s Vietnam operations in 2019.

Bruce has been on the ground in Hanoi, Vietnam building the Hansong Vietnam facility expansion for the last 3 years. He is responsible for the Hansong Vietnam roadmap and daily operations. Bruce has deep insight on why audio companies are moving to Vietnam and the challenges plus benefits that brands, factories and the supply chain face in Vietnam.

Mike Klasco is the president of Menlo Scientific, an audio consulting firm for the loudspeaker industry, located in Richmond, CA. He is a graduate from New York University, with post graduate work in signal processing, and he holds multiple patents licensed or assigned. For the past 35 years, since founding Menlo Scientific, he has worked on product development, design and technical support, liaison between suppliers and manufacturing facilities, sourcing guidance, and certification for a large number of companies. Mike specializes in materials and fabrication techniques to enhance audio performance, has over 500 articles published in audio magazines and technical journals, and to this day continues to be a regular contributor for audioXpress and Voice Coil magazines. He presented papers at the Acoustical Society of America, held positions as Session Organizer for the Audio Engineering Society, Chairman of the Committee on Acoustics, and is an AES Life Member.

Dave Lindberg is the CEO of DB Enterprises based in Hong Kong, and an experienced professional in business and project management, focused on linking brands to innovative technologies and suppliers in Asia. Dave is a factory savvy marketing professional with strengths in selling early stage innovative technologies for consumer electronic devices, medical, industrial and textiles. Based in Asia since 2008, Dave holds a unique perspective on supply chain, having sold technologies and solutions to factories in China and across Asia, connecting brands with suppliers, sourcing key suppliers for manufacturers, or coordinating entire product development projects for select customers.

Events

Audio Manufacturing Options Outside China Vietnam

August 31, 2022 9:00 AM Pacific (12:00 PM Eastern)

Overview

Bruce Crompton

Mike Klasco

Dave Lindberg

Contact

Audio Manufacturing Options Outside China
Vietnam

August 31, 2022
9:00 AM Pacific (12:00 PM Eastern)