Full Question
Gantt charts used to be very effective tools with Asian suppliers.When there are time certain deadlines for projects, why are proven planning tools ignored when it comes to Chinese sourcing? Is this a generational issue or cultural problem?

Answer
I love Gantt charts and my Chinese suppliers are always happy to see a well laid out plan for getting the order out the door. The problem is not getting suppliers to commit to a time line and process flow, that's easy, especially if a large PO hangs in the balance. The problem is getting suppliers to respect the Gantt and meet more than just the first few project gateways. I don't think this lack of respect is generation or cultural. I think it is more economical and dependent on the realities of the buyer-seller agreement. Let me illustrate my point by explaining two common headaches I run into in China. See my response to "What are the most appropriate policies to deal with changes in commodities prices?" above for the two things that often happen in China.