Expert Review | Charging Power Turns "Exploding" Quality Management Needs Strengthened Source Control
Expert Commentary Yang Yu
Recently, well-known charging power brand Ankai Innovative (SZ300866, stock price 105.47 yuan, market value 560.6 billion) announced a recall of certain batches of basic mobile power supplies. The reason for this recall is that the supplier of certain parts in the industry has made unapproved changes to their raw materials, which has resulted in certain batches of products having a risk of overheating and even burning, affecting 7 models and approximately 713,000 units.
For companies, recalling products means bearing short-term financial losses. The costs incurred during the recall process, including logistics, testing, destruction or repair, as well as potential losses to sales revenue, consumer communication and soothing expenses, and costs of negotiating with suppliers, are all significant "bleeding points." However, if viewed from a long-term perspective, recalling products can actually lead to long-term benefits for brand building.
In the market of consumer electronics and accessories, homogenized competition has always been a persistent problem, while brand influence is the key strategic foothold for companies. Companies are willing to sacrifice short-term profits in exchange for long-term market trust, which is a bold and courageous move that marks China's transition from "scale expansion" to "quality foundation." Ankai Innovative, for example, designed multiple compensation methods for users to choose from, and actively contacted relevant buyers through various channels, including SMS, phone calls, and social media. These details fully demonstrate the commitment to prioritizing user experience.
However, in the face of such a large-scale recall and the underlying risk warning, it is not only necessary to acknowledge corporate responsibilities but also to deeply excavate the industry issues exposed by this event. Through inquiries, it was found that multiple certifications issued by well-known battery suppliers have been suspended or expired. Not only that, but certifications issued by brands such as Ankai Innovative, Roma, and Biotech have also been temporarily suspended, with most of these certification status changes dating back to June 1st.
Behind the industry shock is a hidden supply chain risk. According to Ankai Innovative's statement, the supplier involved in this incident made unapproved changes to their raw materials without notification, while end-product companies were unable to detect these issues in time. This not only exposes the company's lack of control over source material but also reflects negligence in quality inspection processes and stages, as well as the existence of regulatory blind spots. When products enter the market, consumers become unwitting test subjects for risk. Although companies take measures after the fact to some extent, it would be more effective to invest resources in the pre-production stage, building a comprehensive tracking system that covers suppliers and raw materials, and establishing a shared supplier black list and risk information library.
For regulatory agencies, it is also necessary to intervene earlier, precisely identifying weaknesses in quality certification programs and extending regulations to the production stage of companies. For example, improving on-site inspections and surprise inspections, severely punishing refusal to cooperate; pushing for certification information transparency throughout the supply chain, achieving "traceable origin" and "problems can be tracked", turning industry-wide risk warnings into institutional upgrades.
This "charging power" recall event is a wake-up call for the industry. Ankai Innovative, Roma, and other companies have borne necessary direct costs, while the entire industry needs to reflect on the long-term investment required for system transformation. Only by converting short-term pains into normalized "system reconstruction" can China's manufacturing reputation rise from mere price tags to quality standards.