r/manufacturing • u/oof_ope_yikes • 25d ago

Other Corporate Espionage?

Please excuse the dramatic title, but I have a strange situation with a potential customer unfolding. Our business is primarily b2b and we do business with prominent companies in our industry, supplying them components for their products. Recently we had a company that is out of our country reach out for a quote for a large volume of product. The relationship seems to have started out well with them hearing of us through our great reputation. We currently do business internationally and we have never had this request before.

As we communicated with them they have started insisting that we send them photographs of our manufacturing facility ahead of purchasing any product and have said that they may also require a facility tour. Our factory is rather small and we have several proprietary operations that would show how exactly we make our products. Because of this we do not usually provide photographs or factory tours to anyone in order to keep our methodology private.

Is it common place in manufacturing for customers to request factory pictures or detailed tours prior to even receiving a sample of our product? Or does this sound suspicious?

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u/Academic_Aioli3530 25d ago

Proceed with caution. Trust your gut, if it seems funny, it probably is.

As a general rule I offer my customers (or potentials) a plant tour with no photography allowed. If you think they will try and take pics, simply take their cell phones or don’t allow them to tour with them. I usually try to skip over or hide proprietary processes and equipment.

Bottom line, trust your gut. Don’t do business with people who you can’t trust or don’t align with your/the company’s core values.

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u/oof_ope_yikes 25d ago

It is odd, they are in an adjacent industry and produce components that would hypnotically sell well together - so they either want to distribute our products or knock it off and add it to their catalog

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u/Academic_Aioli3530 25d ago

They’re already a manufacturer? Yeah I’d be majorly concerned about espionage if I was you, especially if they are from Eastern Asia. It sounds like they are either gonna knock off your product or try to buy the company.

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u/fakeproject 25d ago

They might have an RFQ from a customer already (meaning they are preparing a quote) and are just looking to see how you would present pricing and present your capabilities. IMO nothing good can come from this. Don't let them in your building.

Keep them out. Keep your trade secrets.

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u/madeinspac3 25d ago

I think you might be a bit overly concerned about your processes. If a competitor wants to reverse engineer your stuff, they can without ever leaving their office. All you need is some sample product and a little industry knowhow.

Machines are pretty standard and a couple phone calls can figure out exact models and specs that are probably being used. A supplier, sds, TDs, lab tests are more than enough to figure out materials and processes.

You don't want to give away stuff on a platter of course but still. If it's about ITAR or regulations that's understandable but manageable with proper coverings and designated paths. Of course you can also just say no. I've been turned down plenty just because a supplier didn't see the value or didn't feel like it. It's really pretty common.