producing something inovative in China usually means having somebody there to check up in person and each step of the way

That sounds a lot like getting something innovative made anywhere in the world. If you are producing your first batch of any innovative product, make sure you hire a very very chilled out and friendly expert who can speak the same language as the manufacturer, and who can virtually camp next to the factory for the first three batches. If you don't do this, then you are either making something easy with large margins and don't care about wastage, or you just don't care.