The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the national trade association representing the U.S. apparel and footwear industry, and Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety services, announced a new member benefit that enables AAFA members to access a new sourcing tool. Beginning today, AAFA members now have searchable access to a global directory of suppliers, known as iSupplier Intelligence (ISI), which provides enhanced insight into the identities, policies and processes of supplier partners, enabling buyers to improve business performance and reduce risk while preserving their brand reputations and increasing the potential for successful supplier relationships.
“Supply chain visibility is a top priority for the U.S. apparel and footwear industry and our consumers,” said AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “As a new tool aimed at promoting better informed sourcing decisions, the ISI platform adds heightened transparency and accountability to the U.S. apparel and footwear industry's increasingly complex global supply chain. We look forward to educating our members about this new member benefit and continuing our work with the industry in developing additional tools to help drive a smarter supply chain.”
“Apparel and footwear brands and retailers often source their products from around the world in order to secure optimal pricing, timely delivery and quality products from reputable suppliers,” said Gene Rider, president, Intertek Consumer Goods North America. “ISI provides knowledge about the identity and capability of those suppliers, reducing the risks associated with supplier selection.”
As an online supplier community platform, ISI ( www.isi-supplier.com ) provides global buyers with access to comprehensive information about participating suppliers, including company profiles, capabilities, quality compliance and reputational risk issues associated with social, environmental and security programs, regardless of which organization has conducted the relevant verification.
This level of supply chain transparency is imperative when doing business on a global level in order to monitor and ensure product quality and safety, security and social compliance of factory partners all over the world.
The announcement was made today at the 2012 AAFA Annual International Sourcing, Customs and Logistics Integration Conference in New Orleans, La.
