Planning a China business visit focused on robotics

State the decision in one sentence

“Learn about robotics in China” could justify almost any visit. A more useful brief is: “We want to assess whether mobile robotics can support material supply when orders change.” That defines the process, scope and discussion needs.

Use that brief to assess each meeting. A system supplier can explain architecture and operation, an integrator can address interfaces, and a user can share day-to-day experience where access is available.

Choose participants according to their questions

A small cross-functional group can assess different aspects of the same solution. Participants need to agree on the task and evaluation criteria before departure.

• Production: which disruptions and variants must the solution handle?
• Engineering and IT: which data, interfaces and changes are required?
• Procurement and management: which costs, dependencies and supply conditions matter?

Choose locations to fit the topic

The sample Shenzhen programme focuses on humanoid robotics, components and cooperation across the ecosystem. The Chengdu itinerary examines robotics, industrial AI and smart manufacturing. Both are starting points for tailored planning.

Whether to use one or several cities depends on the required discussions and available time. Allow time to compare findings between meetings: the most useful follow-up question often emerges after the first technical discussion.

Give hosts a useful technical brief

A brief should explain the process, relevant variants and open questions. It should also identify the technical functions needed in the discussion. Confidential drawings or production data are shared only with appropriate approval.

Confirm what may be observed, discussed and recorded. Factory access does not automatically include photography, operating data or every requested meeting. The host’s specific rules apply to the visit.

Define a next step after each meeting

After each meeting, record three things: what was actually observed or evidenced, what remains unresolved, and who will obtain the missing information by when. This creates a traceable basis for comparing suppliers and applications after the trip.

A sample test, a further technical discussion or a reasoned decision not to proceed can all be useful outcomes. Further cooperation requires separate agreement on technical responsibilities, effort and commercial terms.