Anime Company Shifts Production to China, Lowers Costs | Manufacturing
3/7/2026
RRD Asia’s supply chain expertise and operational footprint ensure a successful transition, deliver competitive manufacturing model
CHALLENGE
A leading anime entertainment company, currently manufacturing their products in Japan, was evaluating how to strategically transition their boardgame production to China in order to optimize production costs.
Their objective: achieve greater cost efficiency while maintaining established quality standards, plus meet a compressed production timeline. Making the transition to China, the company realized, would require professional project management combined with rigorous quality control and coordinated supply chain execution.
SOLUTION
The company engaged RRD Asia during a major industry tradeshow to begin exploring options and capabilities for end-to-end gaming solutions in China.
Following in-depth discussions with the client, RRD ultimately created and deployed a comprehensive, fully integrated board game solution that encompassed design, sourcing, production, and quality assurance. Key components included:
- Cost reduction: By leveraging RRD Asia’s established supplier chain and operational footprint, the company was able to develop a competitive manufacturing model in China. This reduced costs while preserving material integrity and product quality.
- Quality assurance: Prior to beginning mass production, the team implemented a structured sampling and validation process. During production, strict inspection procedures were enforced. When issues were identified, RRD conducted immediate root cause analysis and aligned standards with the client to ensure consistency and compliance throughout the production cycle.
- Creative design: RRD’s design team enhanced the overall unboxing experience with the development of a customizable paper insert that was engineered to securely organize game components — improving functionality while also elevating product presentation.
- End-to-end project management: RRD established clear and efficient communication workflows across all stakeholders — ensuring transparency, rapid resolution on any issues, and schedule alignment from production to shipment.
RESULTS
RRD Asia successfully transitioned the company’s boardgame production to China while maintaining quality standards and achieving reduced costs. Specific results included:
- Production was completed on schedule, with delivery finalized within one month from manufacturing to shipment
- RRD’s development of a customizable paper insert improved functionality and enhanced product presentation
- The project’s success led to RRD establishing a long-term partnership and continued strategic collaboration with the company
- This successful production demonstrated RRD’s comprehensive capabilities for the collectibles industry, leveraging a diverse product portfolio, global scale, and specialized industry services