Sourcing glossary
Tooling
Also known as: Moulds, Molds, Tooling cost, 模具, 금형
The custom moulds, dies, jigs and fixtures a factory makes to produce a specific design, usually charged to the buyer as a one-off cost before mass production.
Injection moulds, die-cutting tools and metal stamping dies can cost from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, and making them adds weeks to the lead time. Some factories refund or amortise the cost over a quantity of orders; ask how it is handled before you pay.
Paying for tooling does not automatically mean you control it. Put in writing that you own the moulds, that they may only be used for your orders, and whether you can move them to another factory. See OEM vs ODM.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
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The twelve supplier scams importers meet in China, from the bank-account switch to the vanishing deposit, the check that exposes each, and what to do if you already paid.
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China Sourcing Agent: What They Do, What They Cost and When You Need One
What a China sourcing agent actually does, the four types you will meet, typical fees, when an agent beats buying direct, and a checklist to vet one before you pay.
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Which City in China Makes What: Product-by-Product Sourcing Index
An A-to-Z index of 60 product categories and the Chinese city or town that specialises in each, with links to the cluster page and wholesale market to start from.
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How to Source Women's Clothing from China: Markets, MOQ, Samples and Labels
Where women's clothing is made and sold in China, stock-pack vs made-to-order MOQs, how to sample and check quality, sizing, and the labels your market requires.
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Part of OEM & Private Label.