NEWS FROM THE FUTURE – Factory Audits Becomes a Feature

No Company Follows Apple’s China Factory Audits @ Bloomberg:

Apple Inc. rivals aren’t rushing to emulate the iPhone maker’s decision to subject supplier factories to audits by a labor group. Instead, they’re sticking to internal checks that may leave room for violations — and negative public relations fallout.

As makers we tend to care a lot about where and how things are made. Apple has been in the news regarding the factories they use such as Foxconn. So what can we all do about other companies?

“It will boil down to whether customers demand it,” said Kim, who researches management strategies and how companies deal with regulation. “There’s always an incentive to have the worst labor practices so long as customers don’t know. If Apple and the FLA can elevate this to a level where customers are demanding to see that certification, then competitors will have no choice but to join.”