Over the years, we’ve heard countless stories about poor working conditions in factories. Some, like the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, result in multiple deaths. Often the original manufacturer will claim ignorance of its product being made at the errant facility. Still, much progress has been made toward convincing companies to operate ethical supply chains. And much remains to be done. On this episode, we assess the progress toward that goal with Michael Bland, global sales director of AsiaInspection. His organization deploys thousands of inspectors and auditors to factories all over the world, to ensure that they’re adhering to supplier codes of conduct and treating workers fairly. But what’s the best strategy for guaranteeing supplier compliance? Do you pursue a policy of collaboration, or adopt a “comply or die” mindset? And how do you maintain that commitment among suppliers that are under intense pressure to deliver product cheaply and on time? Hosted by Bob Bowman, managing editor of SupplyChainBrain.

Look for a new episode of the podcast, which can be downloaded or streamed, every Friday on the SupplyChainBrain website and iTunes.

Show notes:

AsiaInspection white papers: “Ethical Supply Chains an Investment, Not a Cost,” and “Will Consumer Awareness Put an End to Modern Slavery?”