Our operating model for cooperation with China

Phase 1: Identifying the customer’s needs and objectives

• what kind of cooperation is starting or ongoing with China
• what goals, expectations, and priorities are connected to the project
• where the cooperation or supply chain may already have encountered challenges
• what schedule and quality requirements are related to the project
• what risks or uncertainties the customer wants to minimize

Based on this discussion, we form a clear and shared understanding of the goals and where the support from Vobiscum and our partner brings the most added value.

Phase 2: Clarifying objectives and structuring communication

Once the customer’s objectives and initial situation are clear, we shape them into a concrete course of action.

At this stage, we ensure that all information critical to the project is:

• described unambiguously
• understood by both parties
• formulated in a way that accounts for cultural differences
• concretized to fit Chinese working practices
• transferable further without room for interpretation

This significantly reduces the risk of misunderstandings and ensures that cooperation can proceed precisely — even before any actions are taken.

In addition, we define:

• the communication rhythm (daily / weekly / situation logs)
• channels to be used
• decision points (when to ask, when to act)
• methods for raising risks and change needs

A clear and shared language is the most important working tool in cooperation with China, and at this stage we ensure that it works.

Phase 3 – Role of our cooperation partner in China

Once the customer’s needs and objectives have been structured, we deliver the full picture to our long‑term Chinese cooperation partner.

We have worked with this partner for over ten years, and our shared operating model has become highly efficient.

Our partner in China is responsible for practical execution:

• supplier meetings and negotiations
• ensuring quality and schedules
• monitoring agreed actions
• documentation and reporting
• checking production progress or process status
• responding quickly and locally to any issues

The strengths of our partner are local presence, language and cultural expertise, and direct contacts with Chinese companies.

We, in turn, ensure that our partner has a completely clear understanding of the customer’s objectivesso that they can carry out their work precisely and with high quality.

Phase 4 – Vobiscum’s role in steering and assurance

While our cooperation partner handles the practical work in China, Vobiscum Advisory ensures that the collaboration progresses as planned and in line with the customer’s objectives. We act as the customer’s primary point of contact and as the overall process coordinator.

Our role includes:

• coordinating the overall work and prioritizing tasks
• ensuring that agreed actions are carried out at the right time
• interpreting situations for the customer clearly, without technical or cultural ambiguity
• regular reporting on progress and observed risk levels
• maintaining communication and guidance toward China
• adjusting or redirecting actions if the situation changes

Vobiscum serves as a bridge‑builder, ensuring that both the customer and our cooperation partner see the same overall pictureand do not interpret matters differently. This is one of the key reasons why the operating model delivers such reliable results.

Phase 5 – Traveling on behalf of the customer or together with the customer

When a situation requires physical presence in China, we can proceed in two ways depending on the customer’s needs:

1) We travel on behalf of the customer

In China, we can handle:

• negotiations
• inspections
• meetings with suppliers
• verification of agreed actions
• resolving unclear situations on-site

This saves the customer time, travel costs, and risks — and situations are often resolved faster than remotely.

2) We travel together with the customer

If the customer wishes to participate, we act as:

• interpreter and facilitator
• cultural bridge-builder
• assurer that discussions proceed precisely
• support in negotiations and decision-making

Physical presence in China strengthens trust, accelerates problem-solving, and ensures that critical project phases progress in a controlled manner.

Summary: Why does the operating model work?

Our operating model is based on a clear division of responsibilities, strong experience, and local presence in China.
This combination makes cooperation predictable, transparent, and reliable.

Key reasons why the model works in practice:

• Clear division of roles
  • Vobiscum handles the customer interface and coordination, while our partner carries out the work on-site in China.
• More than ten years of cooperation with our partner
  • Shared practices, strong trust, and precise routines ensure smooth daily operations.
• Minimizing misunderstandings and risks
  • Objectives and instructions are structured before they are transferred to the Chinese side.
• Local action and fast response in China
  • Our partner handles practical matters on-site without delays.
• Finnish project management
  • Vobiscum ensures everything proceeds as planned and transparently.
• Possibility for physical presence in China
  • Situations are resolved quickly, either on behalf of the customer or together with the customer.

Thanks to this model, our customers can trust that cooperation toward China progresses precisely, in a controlled manner, and with successful results.