Three months in Shanghai – International experiences in Productmanagement

As part of his role as Product Manager Patrick spent three months in Shanghai and one week in Taipei. Find out more in our blog post!

As part of his role as Product Manager in the areas of crop protection, animal husbandry, and tires, Patrick spent three months in Shanghai and one week in Taipei.
This international assignment provided valuable insights into global supply chains, intercultural collaboration, and modern procurement processes.

Work and Projects

During his stay, Patrick worked at GRANIT’s office in Shanghai, which consists of nine employees. One of his key responsibilities was the implementation of a new on-time delivery monitoring system designed to ensure punctual deliveries from Chinese suppliers.

Over the course of three months, he completed 17 supplier visits, gaining in-depth insights into production processes and reviewing quality standards. These visits highlighted how essential communication and trust are when working with international partners.

In addition to his regular product management tasks, a major focus was placed on building and maintaining long-term supplier relationships. The International Purchase Office (IPO) in Shanghai serves as a central interface between product management in Heeslingen and Chinese suppliers.

The team, located on the Pudong side of Shanghai—a modern district whose development began only in 1980 - consists of nine employees: one office manager, one in quality management, two in logistics, and five in purchasing. Particularly noteworthy is the company’s own small laboratory, where products are tested for quality on site before further processing or export.

International Networking

During his stay, Patrick also traveled to Taipei, where he visited the GRANIT office with three employees working in purchasing and logistics. Here as well, the focus was on quality assurance and close coordination with suppliers.

The exchange between the locations in Shanghai, Taipei, and Germany clearly demonstrated how international teams work together toward a common goal and learn from one another.

Life and impressions in China

Outside of work, Patrick gathered many personal impressions of life in Shanghai - a city that uniquely combines tradition and modernity. He lived in a maisonette apartment and spent his free time on sports activities and weekend trips to other cities such as Suzhou and Zhangjiajie.

He was particularly impressed by the skyline with the Shanghai Tower, the waterways of the old town, and the excellent public infrastructure.

Culinary and Cultural Experiences

Another highlight was Chinese cuisine - diverse, fresh, and extremely varied. From dumplings and seafood to street food, Patrick had the opportunity to try many new specialties. Orders were usually placed digitally via apps, and both office and home supply systems worked seamlessly.

In business life, it became clear how central trust is within Chinese corporate culture. Only through long-term and personal relationships can the foundation for successful cooperation be established.

Trade Fair Visit and Return Journey

During his stay, Patrick also attended the Shanghai Tire Expo, a trade fair focused on agricultural tires. The assignment concluded with a week in Taipei, including cultural explorations such as a visit to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

After around four months, the journey ended with a return flight via Istanbul to Hamburg - approximately 15 hours of total travel time.

A Valuable and Unforgettable Experience

Patrick’s time in China and Taiwan was both professionally and personally enriching. He expanded his expertise in international product management and global sourcing, gained new perspectives on quality and supply chain management, and strengthened his intercultural competence.

This experience demonstrated how essential global collaboration, trust, and cultural understanding are in an increasingly interconnected world.

If you would like to learn more about working in China and the experiences of our colleagues, be sure to check out Nina’s article.