International Strategic Sourcing

The trend of companies sourcing product and key components from overseas, and in particular China, is well documented. The normal business driver for this action is to gain competitive edge/increase profitability or perhaps even to simply maintain such a position. However, switching the source of a key product, or relocating entirely, is a big decision for any company. If you get it wrong, it can spell disaster.

In our experience, companies outsource in a range of ways. A number of our clients will have previously manufactured certain products themselves in the UK. Through us, we find an alternative supplier to manufacture and ship back to the UK. Frequently, such suppliers can be found in Eastern Europe and particularly the emerging EU countries of Poland and the Czech Republic.

Alternatively, a company may simply wish to review existing sources of supply, perhaps UK or Western EU based, in favour of a China based solution or an Eastern EU solution.

When considering such key business decisions, local knowledge, language and an understanding of the business culture is key. This is why we have invested in opening a Polish office and developing our associate relationship in China. We also recruit talented people with wide ranging linguistic skills.

Whilst we have our people on the ground in key regions, we continuously monitor the emerging supply bases of not simply China, India and Easter EU, but also the Ukraine, Russia and, increasingly, South America. This collective knowledge is invaluable to any company making a strategic sourcing shift.

CASE STUDIES

Fact Sheet 1