Tag: sourcing
Are you an African manufacturer or potential buyer of African goods? Over the past few years, business leaders and investors have become increasingly aware of the vast potential in Africa’s burgeoning consumer market. In addition, most exporters in this emerging continent are salivating at the opportunity to sell their goods to developed countries. According to the WTO, Africa’s exports to the European Union topped €116 billion in 2016. Europe is by far Africa’s largest export market, capturing 35% of its exports, followed by Intra-African trade, China, the USA, and India. With this in mind, the question for African manufacturers and …
Despite recent threats of tariffs related to current immigration issues in the U.S., Mexico remains a solid contender for global organizations looking to mitigate tariffs in China, or simply diversify their supply chain. According to Inbound Logistics, “Mexico is becoming an increasingly popular option for any and all manufacturing industries that want to mitigate costs without compromising quality.” As a result, U.S. imports of Mexican goods rose 5.4% in the quarter from the year-earlier period, while imports of Chinese goods were down nearly 15%, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Traditionally known for automotive, aerospace and electronics, more recently, manufacturing …
Quality control inspections started out as a relatively primitive process, as a way of catching variance in newly developed production systems. The demand likely evolved as it does with many of Pro QC’s new clients. Someone got product from a supplier that didn’t meet their expectations. And, that meant increased costs, delays, impact on branding, etc. It’s a timeless tale. Using Statistical Quality Control (SQC) starting in the 30s, the QC inspection introduced a reliable way of evaluating a randomly selected production lot. Inspections were conducted at different stages throughout the production process, with the most common being the pre-shipment …
A recent blog post caught our attention. Is breaking up with suppliers easier than we think, even if it’s done “with tact, sensitivity and an appropriate level of empathy?” Our answer is no. It’s not easy at all. Is it necessary? Sometimes. According to the article, little value is placed on the supplier relationship and the assumption is that price rules all. Is it all about price though… or, cost? With that logic, an alternate idea is suggested… Prior to breaking up with the supplier, evaluate how much you’re willing to invest in improving their performance vs. the associated switching costs. …
It’s not uncommon for us to receive calls and emails related to issues organizations are having with expediting orders, either from new or existing suppliers. By expediting, the assumption is that a delivery date or other expectation has been provided, but is not being met. Reasons for delays in production might include: New sub supplier Equipment issues Key staff turnover or other lack of resources Packaging issues Larger orders from other clients taking a priority Whatever the reason(s) might be, communication can quickly become an additional layer of complexity as the supplier continues to assure the buyer that all is …
