The word “sourcing” can be intimidating. Why is there so much talk about the simple process of procuring goods, supplies, or services from another source? The idea seems simple, but the reality can be complex, labor intensive, and nuanced.
Though simple at first glance, sourcing can be an overwhelming endeavor. For a sourcing agent to find the best manufacturers and the best price points, they need to perform a thorough evaluation of potential sources for […]
If you are sourcing product from Asia, it’s likely that you dread that time of the year when the Chinese New Year (“CNY”) comes around. Why would one not look forward to a big holiday? If you’re managing quality, CNY will bring you a laundry list of issues, year after year.
In this blog post, we’ll detail the common quality issues that come with CNY and offer tips on how to […]
What are the key purposes for conducting audits and how do different types of audits work – or work together? Here, we’ll define different types of audits and explain why they’re important in the grand scheme of manufacturing. Read on for an audits overview!
Social Compliance, Security, Quality, Capability, and Capacity audits offer insight into your manufacturers and supply chain and help you provide the highest and most reliable quality services to your customers. They […]
Selecting the right supplier for your business needs will allow you to deliver your products and services on time, at the right price, and in compliance with your quality standards. First and foremost, you need to know what type of supplier you want to work with. Having a clear direction will help in your research so that you’re able to find the right supplier. But, that’s often easier said than done.
So, how can you determine […]
To have an in-house quality inspection team or to hire a third party quality control company – that is the question we’ll be focusing on in this blog post. In order to decide, it really comes down to: What do you want to do in-house, and what do you want to subcontract?
The main reason why some importers want their own team to perform inspections is to save money. If you decide to hire […]
When starting the sourcing process, it’s essential that you first define what it is that you are seeking. When working with a supplier, you should establish a clear joint commitment that includes:
After pinning down a solid plan, it’s time to dive into the process. Let’s now take a walk through each step of […]
When it comes to providing quality, where should you start? Here, we’re answering frequently asked questions in the sourcing and product inspections realm that will help you set a solid foundation of the quality basics. Let’s get started.
What is AQL?
‘AQL’ stands for ‘Acceptance Quality Limit’ and represents the quality level that is the worst tolerable in product inspections. Since visual inspection is not 100% reliable, there will be defective products in virtually every production batch. […]
What are on-site inspections and what do they entail? Here, we’ll discuss the purpose of in-store retail inspections and the key components that must not be overlooked. Let’s dive in!
On-site retail inspections are conducted in order to determine whether products are placed, displayed, and promoted as intended. In-store inspections are key opportunities to regularly evaluate the brand from the consumer’s perspective, right at the place where the buying decision is made. Meticulous planning, attention […]
Selecting the right supplier for your business needs is vital to ensure that you are able to deliver your products and services on time, at the right price, and in compliance with your quality standards. Creating specific supplier selection criteria will help you identify a supplier that will work with you to meet the demands of your customers. Here, we’ll offer key tips for setting those criteria and, in turn, finding a good supplier for […]
Is “quality provider” synonymous with “sourcing agent”? If you answered yes, this blog will clear things up for you. Here, we’ll identify the differences between the two terms to clarify that they are not the same thing. Let’s break it down.
What is a Quality Provider?
A quality provider performs quality audits to assess the quality systems carried out by manufacturers in accordance with the ISO quality system standard, ISO 9001. The chief purpose of these assessments is to measure the effectiveness of factories’ Quality Management Systems (QMS) to guarantee that the results are as intended. Product inspections are also a primary function of a quality service provider. Inspections ensure that specifications and quality standards are being met whether inspecting raw materials, during production, or final random inspections before the finished product is shipped. When compared to a sourcing agent, a quality provider covers a narrower scope.
