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From armed conflicts around the globe and shifts in the political landscape to an increase in natural disasters, supply chain disruptions are not new, but their intensity has grown rapidly over the last year.
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Helping companies navigate these changes, quality control and compliance company QIMA is working with its clients to proactively future-proof their businesses, rather than only putting out fires after they start. “We’re at the point where supply chain resilience is not an option anymore,” Michael Bland, senior director of strategic sales at QIMA, said in a podcast with Meghan Hall, business reporter and tech editor at Sourcing Journal. “Companies need a robust plan and agile strategies to survive in this volatile landscape, and that’s where [QIMA steps] in.”
According to QIMA, fashion is uniquely vulnerable to supply chain disruptions for several reasons. First, there’s the issue of high seasonality and cost pressure. Fast fashion, in particular, relies on tight schedules—collections must hit the shelves on time, or they risk becoming irrelevant. A delay of even a few weeks can mean the difference between sell-out success and unsold inventory.
Second, the industry operates on thin margins, a challenge further intensified by the growing pressure to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability goals. Balancing cost efficiency with environmental and ethical standards adds another layer of complexity to the already difficult exercise of supply chain management, Bland added. Lastly, fashion brands are juggling more collections per year than ever before. This shift, combined with rising costs for materials and production, creates a “perfect storm of vulnerability.”
While QIMA doesn’t see these challenges easing anytime soon, Bland noted that having trusted data is crucial for combating these problems and achieving onsite visibility.
For example, in 2023 QIMA collected data on 1.7 million defects in consumer goods—equating to 197 defects per hour. This insight allowed the company to identify risks early and help brands take proactive measures to address them more effectively.
“At QIMA, we ensure the data is reliable by gathering it from every stage of the supply chain, including audits, testing and inspections. This provides fashion brands and retailers with accurate, complete and actionable data,” Bland said. “[Overall], trusted data enables brands to make smarter decisions, foster better relationships with suppliers and avoid costly mistakes. Without reliable data, even the best technology can’t deliver real results.”
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