# S2 E9: Global Supply Chain Strategy with Ying Liu

- Show: [The Builder Circle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle)
- Published: 2024-03-19
- Length: 1h 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-03-19-s2-e9-global-supply-chain-strategy-with-ying-liu
- Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/thebuildercircle/1396717

## Summary

Ying Liu, CEO of BlueLake Packaging and former Apple supply chain leader, explains how to navigate outsourcing versus insourcing by evaluating company stage, product complexity, and team skills. She details the critical metrics for selecting global suppliers, including project management capability, willingness to handle engineering change requests, and quality culture, while warning against IP risks with turnkey vendors. Liu shares her experience scaling Apple’s China operations from zero to high volume, emphasizing that quality must be designed in from day one and that startups must budget for hardware iteration errors and leave runway for changes.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Ying Liu and BlueLake Packaging
2. Outsourcing vs. Insourcing Decision Framework
3. Supplier Selection Criteria and Risk Assessment
4. Navigating Turnkey Solutions and IP Conflicts
5. Common Startup Pitfalls and Market Fit
6. Scaling Production: Lessons from Apple China
7. Integrating Quality and Sustainability from Day One
8. Final Advice for Hardware Entrepreneurs

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- BlueLake Packaging (company)
- Apple (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [155: Identifying a Sourcing Partner for Overseas Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-12-21-155-identifying-a-sourcing-partner-for-overseas-manufacturing) (Product Startup)
- [How to Evaluate Suppliers and Manufacturers with Mike Morena and Shawn Litingtun](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-04-10-how-to-evaluate-suppliers-and-manufacturers-with-mike-morena-and-shawn-litingtun) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Nearshoring Manufacturing from Asia to Mexico: Risks, Rewards, and Realities w/ Matt Hannula](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-10-07-nearshoring-manufacturing-from-asia-to-mexico-risks-rewards-and-realities-w-matt) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Supply Chains and Manufacturing with Charles Lin of TechDesign](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-06-supply-chains-and-manufacturing-with-charles-lin-of-techdesign) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Scaling Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-19-scaling-manufacturing) (Oxide and Friends)

## Citing this page

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