The world of sourcing is growing by the day and most of us are faced with the conundrum taking manufacturing offshore or keeping it in our own backyard.
With the rise of technology and the diminishing of inaccessible geographical boundaries, businesses and brands now have more choice than ever of where to source and manufacture their product offering.
While growing production capabilities across dozens of countries and regions certainly presents more freedom and flexibility when it comes to sourcing, it can also lead to several potholes and pitfalls if not approached and navigated strategically.
But advice to avoiding these adverse situations will be the cornerstone of Brian Garvin’s seminar presentation at the International Sourcing Expo Australia on Tuesday, 14 November at the International Convention Centre in Sydney.
As Founder and Managing Director of B. Garvin Sourcing in Dongguan, China, Mr Garvin will discuss a comprehensive guide of dos and don’ts when sourcing internationally, and more specifically from South East Asia, sharing affordable and effective strategies for finding and managing vendors.
However, in the lead up to his seminar, we asked Mr Garvin about some of the most important things to keep in mind when working with suppliers in South East Asia.
1. Perform the due diligence – “Select a factory that is the right size for your order and is the best value in terms of price, quality, size and production lead time.”
2. Make sure you communicate with your supplier on a regular basis – “Out of sight, out of mind is the worst thing you can do. Don’t expect the supplier to have good project management skills or that they will update you regularly or inform you of bad news in advance.”
3. Create a project management system – “Make sure all issues and tasks related to the order are well defined and tracked and there is clear ownership and accountability for each task. If a task goes beyond the agreed and expected closure date, be sure to ask the pertinent questions: what is the reason for the delay, what is the solution to the delay and what is the new end date.”
4. Build into your budget the costs of a few trips to the Chinese (or South East Asian) factory you are working with – “This helps you keep an eye on things as well as build a relationship with your supplier. If this is not possible, identify a local agent or someone you can trust who can look out for your best interests
5. Link payments to performance – “Don’t make the final payment to the supplier until all quality requirements and performance issues have been confirmed.”
This is just a brief insight into the content Mr Garvin will delve into at the International Sourcing Expo Australia.
Further topics discussed at his seminar will include finding a good supplier and avoiding bad ones, tips for placing small orders, avoiding scams, negotiating purchase orders, monitoring orders and what to do if things go wrong.
To register your attendance for this FREE seminar at the International Sourcing Expo Australia (14-16 November, International Convention Centre Sydney) or to see the full speaker program, please visit http://www.internationalsourcingexpo.com/seminars/. Bookings are ESSENTIAL.