The sourcing consultant’s main job is to guide your company through the international sourcing process, ensuring that your company is manufacturing at efficiencies to deliver a product that is price competitive in the market.

Once the sourcing consultant receives the product specifications from the client, the   consultant will help the client determine which design and materials should be used to most economically produce the product, while still meeting the client’s quality specifications.

Finding the best supplier to manufacture the product and obtaining a price quote from that supplier is one of the areas where a sourcing consultant’s expertise is particularly important.  One of the many challenges for a US business or individual with a product idea is manufacturing at efficiencies to deliver a product that is price competitive.  One of the solutions to this problem is finding manufacturers in countries with cost efficiencies that can produce the product at the right price.  The two most prevalent efficiencies in manufacturing overseas are lower labor costs and raw material availability.   This can be a difficult task for a company – especially with barriers such as language and cultural differences.  The right sourcing consultant is an expert in these areas and can do business effectively and efficiently in the manufacturing country.

If the client agrees to the price quoted, a sourcing consultant will coordinate obtaining a sample from the supplier and arrange payment of sampling costs by the company.

Once a sample is approved, a sourcing consultant uses his or her expertise to ensure quality production and that the supplier has met all product specifications, as defined by the client.  An effective sourcing consultant will have a tried and true process in place as well as people on the ground to check goods for quality.

If the company does not have shipping logistics in place, a sourcing consultant can help determine the most cost effective shipping method.  This will depend on factors such as customs and government regulations in the manufacturing country, all of which an experienced sourcing consultant will possess expert knowledge. The sourcing consultant will also be familiar with foreign exchange rates and will calculate these to minimize currency exposure

As one of the most trusted global sourcing companies in the industry, Q International handles all the complexities of the sourcing process.  We work with you from design to delivery so that purchasing and manufacturing overseas becomes a simple and seamless process. Q International has built a network of trusted partnerships with our manufacturers.  With the combined purchasing power of all of our clients, we often can negotiate lower minimum quantity requirements than if a single company were going through the buying process on its own.  We look forward to discussing the process with you and answering any questions that you might have about how using a sourcing consultant can increase your bottom line.  Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.

In a nutshell, international sourcing or global sourcing is an international procurement strategy that takes advantage of global efficiencies to deliver a product or service. The process can be overwhelming for a company, but is an activity that must be pursued in order for a company to manufacture at efficiencies that will allow it to deliver a product that is price competitive in the market.

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