Getting mad and tired

I believe every last one person working in China who has to deal with exports will tell you that the greatest problem here is not quality or production delays but the people that are behind every order, the dreaded Export Managers. Quality tou can discuss. Production delays you can overcome, adjust order volumes or do something else. But usually the only way to do this is going through export manager... and that sometimes is just unbearable.

I regret to say that I've got myself a case just like this. In my nine years in China I thought I've seen every possible variations - from lowly migrant workers to big bosses and ministry heads. Still this one particular export manager stands out like sore (and painful) thumb.

The guy's name is Richard Fang. His trademark is lagging. If there was some competition like "The most useless manager in China", this one would automatically qualify for finals. It's the only Chinese manager I've encountered so far that will tell me that his mobile has ran out of power and he had to charge it for three days - that was his excuse for doing nothing with our order. When he says that order will be ready in time you can add two weeks to the date... and still it's not guaranteed that they'll start the production.

I'm writing this entry while on the road to the factory. Finally there's something that needs QC... and only two weeks behind the schedule. Previous batch was late two months! Did I hear something like "Sorry.."? Not once! and that would be his usual way... and he still is an employee here! Now that would be highly unusual for China - usually they make a short work of such people who spoil the company image... but this situation makes me willing to resort to violence. It's a pity I'll never do it...