Assessing manufacturers is a vital aspect of supply chain management for many consumer product brands. As such, you may be thinking about conducting a supplier audit to help uncover hidden manufacturing issues or aid you in supplier development. In general, audits...
Imagine you’ve been working with a manufacturer in Vietnam to produce a line of laptop bags for the last two years, and the relationship has gone well. You have reasonable quality standards for your product, and you feel like the factory has met them. Then, one day,...
Making good products is fundamental to establishing trust with consumers, and companies that accomplish this reap great rewards. According to data from Salsify, 46% of US consumers say they are willing to pay more for a brand name they trust, and 54% research a...
China makes up a remarkable 28.7% of total global manufacturing output, according to UN statistics. And despite the push to diversify sourcing locations in recent years, the country’s manufacturing dominance leads countless companies to take advantage of its...
Committing to quality isn’t a one-time initiative — it’s an ongoing process that involves careful strategizing and monitoring of your supply chain and business model. But high-quality output doesn’t emerge from nowhere: it’s the people within your organization whose...
We all know it when we see it. A quality product tends to be well designed and constructed, serve the purpose for which it was purchased, and satisfy—or exceed—our expectations. But understanding and fulfilling such subjective parameters is a complex, perennial...
When choosing a manufacturer to trust with your product, the stakes are high. Selecting a low-quality producer can affect your reputation (not to mention your bottom line) for years to come. So you’ll want to work with a manufacturer that has a solid quality...
Encountering unexpected problems in your business is inevitable. No matter how well prepared your organization is, there’s no avoiding the challenges of a tumultuous world and a human workforce. And when faced with these setbacks, it’s crucial to have a plan in place...
The terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 changed not only the landscape of world politics but also world economics. One of the ways in which the United States government responded was to establish C-TPAT. Meant to aid the war against terrorism, following C-TPAT...
When establishing a strong supply chain for your company, it’s imperative to understand exactly how your business is operating. Of course, that’s easier said than done if your manufacturing process is remote or overseas. Luckily, audits allow your company to keep an...
