The Client Organisation
The client is a leading, world-wide retailer of designer home-style products. The product offering, including ceramics, is sourced from a number of countries but whatever the supplier, the quality standards are universal.

The Project
The Chinese supplier factory was required to manufacture a range of porcelain tableware, glazed with a variety of coloured glazes. As the range had been a popular item in the Client's stores for quite some time, it was particularly important that the product from this supplier was identical to the existing product.

The project was split into two parts. The first was to develop three coloured glazes to the standard required by the Client. The second stage was to develop methods of applying and firing the glazes that would enable the production of the range of items in the required quantities and to the required standards.

The Approach
Philip White, an expert in the development and manufacture of all types of ceramic tableware, made a number of two week visits to the factory in China. In these visits he worked closely with the Chinese production operatives and management to install the correct materials and working methods. As with any project if this type, an essential outcome is for the supplier to be able to continue to meet the demands of the customer without outside help. This meant that a necessary feature of the project was the involvement and training of the suppliers' employees. This was particularly important with the Technical and Quality Control staff who would be responsible for the maintenance of the product standards.

The Result
The project was successful in all respects and the supplier is regularly providing satisfactory product of a high quality and at an attractive price to CERAM's Client.