FOREIGN ASSIGNMENT
Quality and Compliance Manager Irma Koch-Blackman travels afar to make sure vendors adhere to Roots Code of Conduct
Sometimes, nothing beats seeing it for yourself. That's certainly the case when it comes to the work of the Sourcing Department at Roots. In recent years, as the company has greatly expanded its product line, there's been an increased need to manufacture certain items overseas. In a growing number of cases, there are no longer manufacturers in Canada that can produce specific types of products with the necessary quality and price range.
But in seeking vendors elsewhere, price and quality are not enough. Before Roots will agree to work with a company, it must accept the Roots Code of Conduct, which governs working conditions at the facility in question. It's an intrinsic part of the Roots ethical approach to doing business.
Although vendors must sign a contract that includes the Code of Conduct, Roots goes much further to ensure that factories adhere to the conditions stipulated in the Code. To that end, and at considerable expense, Roots uses independent third party labour specialists to inspect facilities and sends members of the Sourcing Department abroad to personally visit and verify the situation on the ground.
Recently, Irma Koch-Blackman, Quality and Compliance Manager at Roots, returned from China and Hong Kong where she visited various factories. In addition to familiarizing herself with people in each facility, Irma audited their 'social responsibility' compliance with the Code of Conduct and looked at quality-related aspects of their manufacturing. In addition, she used the visits to resolve any on-going questions on quality and compliance and to consolidate vendor partnerships.
“I am pleased to report that our vendors have taken our suggestions regarding social compliance and quality standards seriously," says Irma, whose job at the Head Office in Toronto entails frequent email and phone contact with Roots vendors. "It was great to see for myself that they have taken the necessary steps to implement equipment innovations and processes to adhere to the Roots Code of Conduct and quality standards.”
Irma's visit is part of an on-going program to ensure that Roots suppliers fully understand and accept the importance that Roots attaches to making its products only in facilities where workers are treated fairly with respect and dignity they deserve, and that all labour laws are respected. That applies equally to factories abroad and in Canada."Monitoring the manufacturing facilities for product integrity and social compliance is a critical aspect of our procurement," says Andre Desouza, Director of Sourcing. “We have multiple stages of monitoring and testing to ensure that the products we bring to our customers are being made by responsible and ethical means. Irma's trip helps consolidate and re-enforce our commitment to these principles.
Sometimes, nothing beats seeing it for yourself. That's certainly the case when it comes to the work of the Sourcing Department at Roots. In recent years, as the company has greatly expanded its product line, there's been an increased need to manufacture certain items overseas. In a growing number of cases, there are no longer manufacturers in Canada that can produce specific types of products with the necessary quality and price range.
But in seeking vendors elsewhere, price and quality are not enough. Before Roots will agree to work with a company, it must accept the Roots Code of Conduct, which governs working conditions at the facility in question. It's an intrinsic part of the Roots ethical approach to doing business.
Although vendors must sign a contract that includes the Code of Conduct, Roots goes much further to ensure that factories adhere to the conditions stipulated in the Code. To that end, and at considerable expense, Roots uses independent third party labour specialists to inspect facilities and sends members of the Sourcing Department abroad to personally visit and verify the situation on the ground.
Recently, Irma Koch-Blackman, Quality and Compliance Manager at Roots, returned from China and Hong Kong where she visited various factories. In addition to familiarizing herself with people in each facility, Irma audited their 'social responsibility' compliance with the Code of Conduct and looked at quality-related aspects of their manufacturing. In addition, she used the visits to resolve any on-going questions on quality and compliance and to consolidate vendor partnerships.
“I am pleased to report that our vendors have taken our suggestions regarding social compliance and quality standards seriously," says Irma, whose job at the Head Office in Toronto entails frequent email and phone contact with Roots vendors. "It was great to see for myself that they have taken the necessary steps to implement equipment innovations and processes to adhere to the Roots Code of Conduct and quality standards.”
Irma's visit is part of an on-going program to ensure that Roots suppliers fully understand and accept the importance that Roots attaches to making its products only in facilities where workers are treated fairly with respect and dignity they deserve, and that all labour laws are respected. That applies equally to factories abroad and in Canada."Monitoring the manufacturing facilities for product integrity and social compliance is a critical aspect of our procurement," says Andre Desouza, Director of Sourcing. “We have multiple stages of monitoring and testing to ensure that the products we bring to our customers are being made by responsible and ethical means. Irma's trip helps consolidate and re-enforce our commitment to these principles.
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