Apparel factories in today’s unprecedented times aim to go beyond testing, inspection and certification to look at the underlying elements that enable them, their employees and products to be successful. For this to happen, factories need to have that sort of technical understanding using which they go for precise identification and mitigation of the intrinsic risk in their business operations, supply chains and processes. And who can understand these fundamental risks in the textile and apparel manufacturing industry better than Intertek – a leading TQA (Total Quality Assurance) provider for various industries – that, for decades, has been enabling the factories to move beyond traditional supply chains services and help them do proper risk assessment in their entire business procedures.
From lab outsourcing to benchmarking and comparison testing, Intertek’s bespoke assurance solutions provide its customers with a competitive edge, and as mentioned by the company, it is able to identify inferior and uncertain quality of raw materials and components within pre-production and development stages. The industry stakeholders today don’t talk about product quality only, but also about the quality of in-house processes and supply chain because these collectively make huge impact on the business. This is one of the prime reasons behind apparel companies’ consistent efforts towards improving their quality management system to place their operations in the best position to act effectively before they create problems and result in inefficiencies and cost loss.
As far as product quality is concerned, according to Intertek, “Failure to meet the product quality of finished goods can result in high discounts, cancellation of shipments, product recalls, threat to brand reputation, and subsequently, financial loss.”
How to mitigate these risks?
As important as it is to understand that risk assessment is mandatory for a balanced supply chain, what can’t be denied is that it requires collaboration with a technically sound team which, possibly, not many apparel factories have! An experienced third-party laboratory services provider – such as Intertek – can help mitigate these risks. The right lab set-up is important, as it can help identify the root cause of product inconsistencies and provide the necessary measures and solutions to reduce testing turnaround time and costs and ensure compliance with laboratory testing guidelines. In addition, Intertek also provides Quality Management Systems (QMS) certification to ensure the processes and procedures in place are optimal and effective.
Although in-house (owned) laboratories can provide essential services, these labs may not obtain certain test capabilities. In-house labs can be expensive to operate and remain under-utilised. Outsourcing laboratory functions, on the other hand, can alleviate the strain of overhead and operating costs with the added benefit of expert laboratory support services.
“Lab outsourcing practices also achieve lower variable-costs, reduce the need for capital investment, and enable instant access to world-class analytical expertise and capabilities on short notice,” commented Intertek’s Assurance team, adding, “Intertek has the expertise necessary to set up state-of-the-art laboratory facilities with extensive laboratory designs, audits, and product/process performance benchmarking.” Intertek further mentioned that the training services imparted by its experts to factories ensure that workforce competencies of the client are current and relevant to customer needs.
Here is what Intertek offers among its laboratory outsourcing services and why a factory should opt for them if they plan to outsource lab capabilities…
Within Lab Consultancy and QMS, Intertek Softline Assurance creates opportunities for customers to avail themselves to Intertek’s advisory and assessment services. As laboratory productivity and measurement consultants, Intertek evaluates client laboratory infrastructures and applies benchmarking criteria such as:
- Laboratory Layout Plans
- Implementations of ISO/IEC 17025 Standard
- Technical Competencies
- RCA Solutions
- Lab Accreditation Programs
- Equipment Validation Services
- Colour Evaluations
- Manual & Protocol Preparations
- Lab Technician/Quality Engineer/QC Training as per International Standards
- Outsourcing Services
As mentioned by the company, organisations and government entities across the world trust Intertek’s expertise to outsource all-inclusive laboratory services and they have a proven international track-record of providing diverse laboratory solutions through experts and project teams amongst a wide range of industries.
Further, channeling the spirit of its legendary founders, Intertek has been reinventing the industry with its TQA value proposition, going beyond physical quality control through Testing, Inspection and Certification services to offer total peace of mind through Assurance services that are tailored to each customer’s individual needs with bold innovations.
Intertek Assurance optimises industry operations and helps ensure products meet quality, safety and sustainability standards for markets around the world…
With its Assurance services, Intertek focuses on maximising the accuracy, output and efficiency across industry operations. For instance, its services include instrument calibrations and measurement training that are essential for guaranteeing precision and reliability to reduce costly errors in terms of quality, safety and the sustainability of customer products.
Calibration is a key component in all systems where instruments are used to collect measurements for the purpose of assessing the reliability and capability of manufacturing operations. This includes testing products against specifications and determining compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements. The accuracy of such measurements is dependent on the regular calibration of measuring instruments and, with Intertek assurance, labs can provide organisations with a competitive edge by setting accurate calibration benchmarks as well as ensuring acceptable standards for buyers.
The collective flexibility and experience of over 13 decades of Intertek creates service differentiation for a wide range of customers and industries, not just in manufacturing but also across the retail sector. Ultimately, as Intertek mentions, this helps increase product innovation, resulting in a competitive advantage for customers and a boost in their brand value.
Within South Asia, India and Bangladesh are the largest markets for Intertek’s textile and apparel services. Intertek India’s Assurance Services extend beyond lab outsourcing and product benchmarking to include accreditation support, claim verification, and product validation services.
Intertek is a leading TQA provider to industries worldwide with a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices, and over 44,000 personnel in more than 100 countries, delivering innovative solutions for their customers’ operations and supply chains.
