Manufacturing and Quality Control blog

Have you ever been able to visit a factory in China? Most people just have a general idea in their head of what they think a Chinese factory might look like. That idea is usually a fabrication from everything they have seen in the media, whether it is a movie or the news. The truth of the matter is that the majority of the world does not have the slightest idea of what a Chinese factory is actually like. During a recent podcast interview, one our newest hires gave us a fresh perspective as someone who had never been to China before and much less a factory.

Topics: Social Compliance

If you’re like most savvy manufacturers, you know to watch out for changes in labor laws that could affect you in countries where you have factories, or where you sell your products. Now we want to bring your attention to legislation that could put you at risk as a manufacturer or retailer. The law is called the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act. Since taking effect in 2012, this law has forced many manufacturers to be open about their products and supply chains. In this bulletin article, we’ll tell you how to know if you’re affected and what you can do to make sure you’re compliant.

Topics: Social Compliance

Why should you make social compliance a priority for your suppliers? How effective is auditing at making sure your suppliers are compliant? Just because more factories have been audited does not mean that the conditions at Chinese factories have actually improved though. Now you, as a buyer, need to decide if you will force your suppliers to actually improve.

Topics: Social Compliance

Are social compliance audits really necessary? What are the risks of not considering social compliance? In this article, Steve Mogentale tells us why manufacturers and importers should care about social compliance audits.

Topics: Social Compliance

What is a social compliance audit and what does it mean for manufacturers? This is a question that's risen to prominence in the past several years and resonated throughout global trading and manufacturing. When it comes to making sure that your suppliers are compliant with local laws and the requirements of retailers you supply, social compliance audits are just about the only tool at your disposal... .

Topics: Social Compliance, social compliance audit

InTouch shows you how to create an easy and cost-effective social compliance strategy for your company and suppliers.

Topics: Social Compliance

Walmart released a statement to all its suppliers, dated Janunary 22nd, outlining a new Ethical Sourcing and Zero Tolerance policy regarding unauthorized sub-contracting that is in effect as of March 1st, 2013. This update to Walmart’s Ethical Sourcing initiative comes in the wake of a horrific fire that tore through a Walmart supplier’s facility in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, reportedly killing as many as 120 people. Tragically, the letter was released just days before another blaze would claim 7 more lives at a factory in the same city.

Topics: Social Compliance

International attention focused on unethical manufacturing practices when in 1996, Kathie Lee Gifford was rocked by a scandal. It was revealed that children as young as 12 years old in Honduras, El Salvador, and China were sewing “Kathie Lee” brand garments destined for Walmart shelves. These laborers worked 14 hours a day in very poor conditions, earning just 22 cents an hour.

Topics: Social Compliance

Topics: Social Compliance