Importing Today

Buying from unknown sources can increase the likelihood of product risk.  To avoid costly mistakes these should be carefully evaluated and controlled.  

Competitive pricing, innovative design, up to date fashion and the best quality have never been more important then they are today. Retail buyers and importers alike continuously need to adapt and modernise products to remain competitive and maintain or increase their market share. At the same time financial pressures require stocks to be kept as low as possible, making reliable and rapid production and delivery essential. Consumer pressure groups and NGO’s are also focusing more attention on environmental and ethical sourcing issues. All these forces mean that importing is today an increasingly dynamic function, often making it necessary to buy products from new suppliers and new countries.

Importing Risks:

Many importers pay for their goods before they are shipped from the country of manufacture. This practice involves very significant risks.

Just one serious mistake can eliminate all profits from many successful consignments.

Some potential risks are:

• Non-conformity to samples
• Non-conformity to specifications
• Products unsafe or hazardous
• Non-conformity to safety regulations
• Incorrect quantity or sizes
• Supplier sub-contracts production resulting in problems
• Supplier moves or goes out of business
• Supplier rejects responsibility after shipment
• Production starts late
• Order shipped late or in part only
• Factory has poor environmental management
• Employee conditions in factory are ethically unacceptable

Typical Problems:

Manufacturers and suppliers are always keen to get business, particularly when developing new products and breaking into new markets. This often makes them accept orders beyond their capability, capacity and knowledge.

There are many things that can go wrong, and the most serious can cause major problems for the importer. Typical among these are:

• Components or materials are changed during manufacture
• Production is sub-contracted and not supervised by the main supplier
• Insufficient time is allowed for production
• Buyer’s instructions are not passed to the sub-contractor
• Quality considered acceptable by the supplier is unacceptable to the client
• Production items are different to hand-made selling samples

The Role of Independent Quality Control:

Independent pre-shipment inspection and laboratory testing provides an objective assessment of quality, safety, quantity and packaging before goods are shipped and the supplier is paid. It reduces risks and protects the importer’s financial interests.

As the largest independent inspection, testing and certification company in the world with offices in 140 countries and over 30,000 specialists, who check some 4% of total world trade every year, SGS can act as the importer’s watchdog anywhere in the world, by providing a comprehensive range of quality control services

For a copy of A Guide to Quality Control Services for Importers & Exporters please click here or contact us on 020 8991 3410.