Suppliers
The Group's outsourced manufacturing model places a high emphasis on supplier selection and evaluation. The Group is committed to long term relationships with all members within the supply chain. These relationships are reinforced through regular visits, audits, supplier development and a focus on risk reduction. Values such as integrity, working conditions and non-use of child labour are core to our principles and we actively search for the same values from our suppliers. Assurance is sought from suppliers that they uphold all local laws and regulations.
Any deviations observed in the areas of safe working practices, working conditions, or the use of hazardous materials will be pointed out to the supplier and immediate corrective action sought. All key suppliers are normally qualified to ISO 9000 standards.
Future audits will be developed to benchmark the ethical and sustainability standards of the companies within the supply base. A programme is also to be developed to retrospectively screen current suppliers in these areas.
Outcomes
In 2011 the Group:
- Had a key supplier base with over 95% registered to ISO 9000;
- Needed to take no action to rectify unethical behaviour by suppliers;
- Updated supplier audit and assessment methods in respect of ethical issues;
- Commenced work into the development of retrospective screening of existing major suppliers on the new ethics criteria.
