Case Study
Model Car Company
Rebuilding a Broken Supply Chain From the Ground Up
A leading model car company approached Tincat in crisis. Their existing factories were missing deadlines, producing unacceptably high defect rates, and jeopardising the viability of the business. They were referred to Tincat for one reason: our ability to accurately assess factory capability, professionalism, QA systems, and overall supply chain health — and then rebuild what isn’t working.
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After conducting a full factory audit, the situation was clear: the facilities were fundamentally unfit for purpose. Poor engineering practices, inadequate quality control, unstable finances, and unprofessional management had created a supply chain on the brink of collapse. The client needed stability, quality, and reliability — fast.
During the transition, things worsened: the original factories went bankrupt, leaving employee wages unpaid and critical tooling scattered among subcontractors. Many of these tools were mislabeled, poorly constructed, damaged, or presumed lost. Without immediate intervention, the company risked losing entire product lines and years of development investment.
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Tincat moved decisively to rebuild the supply chain from the ground up.
We partnered with a financially stable, highly capable factory and designed a new, dedicated production line, complete with engineering oversight, QA systems, and on-site quality control inspectors.
Using our extensive network across China, we located the subcontractors holding the client’s tools and negotiated the safe recovery of all assets.
Over a six-month period, Tincat and the partner factory sorted, repaired, and standardised more than 160 tools, many of which were previously unusable.
Working collaboratively with engineers, we restored more than six vehicle styles that were thought to be permanently lost, putting them back into active production.
New packaging was developed by TPF for both and updated look and better protection of the cars during transit.
A continuous improvement program — overseen directly by Tincat — ensured the new processes became stronger, leaner, and increasingly efficient over time.
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Backlog Eliminated: Cleared nearly three years of overdue orders within eight months.
Quality Transformation: Defect rates dropped from over 30% to under 2%, with further improvements underway.
Stabilised Supply Chain: A secure, professionally managed factory environment built for long-term growth.
Recovered Assets: 160+ tools located, repaired, and returned to controlled, productive use.
Ongoing Partnership: Tincat now leads all development and production, including new cars with improved tooling and upgraded quality standards.