STR Works For You. Company Overview

Transcription

1 Company Overview Your business faces performance, economic and regulatory pressures everyday. In a world of increasing complexity, STR can help you achieve product success, manage your supply chain and protect your brand. Trusted the world over, STR is an independent provider of quality assurance testing, audits, inspections and responsible sourcing services. Our reach encompasses laboratories and offices in over 30 countries across five continents with the capacity to provide audit services in over 100 countries. STR s international team of experts will help you effectively evaluate and monitor products throughout the sourcing process and help you understand how human rights, global sourcing and ethical performance intersect. STR delivers unparalleled quality solutions no matter where you source in the world: Testing & Quality Assurance Analytical, microbiological, physical and performance testing Product and design evaluations Sensory evaluation & consumer testing Audits Factory capabilities audit Social assessment Good Manufacturing Practice (cgmp) audit What Distinguishes STR Our focus on consumer products, in-depth quality assurance programs, customized approach and the ability to align our capabilities to your unique needs makes STR your preferred third party quality assurance partner. STR Consumer Product Inspections Top of production (TOP) inspections In-process quality checks (DUPRO) Final random inspections Loading inspections Responsible Sourcing Solutions Program development and management Monitoring Training, education and consulting Publications Registrations and Certifications Accredited management system certification audits cgmp compliance audits

2 Quality Assurance Testing To compete in today s performance-driven market, you must ensure your product will meet the expectations of consumers before it reaches their hands. STR testing provides effective, independent analysis you can act on. Our testing laboratories can help determine if the products you are manufacturing, selling and distributing comply with safety and performance standards and adhere to international regulations before they hit store shelves. STR Testing delivers unparalleled quality solutions, no matter where you source in the world: Product evaluations including safety, performance, design, and construction Product testing to legally mandated protocols, regulations and standards Testing to proprietary client specifications Product risk assessments Analytical, microbiological and physical testing Durability and shelf life tests Technical support for product development Review of packaging and labeling Sensory evaluation and consumer testing What distinguishes STR Testing: By listening closely to your needs, we can help you manage product quality day-to-day, and proactively identify changes vital to succeeding, especially when developing new products.

3 Risk Assessment Every decision you make in the supply chain affects your product s future success in the marketplace. Which raw materials will you use in your product, which factory will manufacture your product and how will your goods arrive safely in the hands of consumers? STR analyzes a company s sourcing and routing arrangements, the environment of its factories, the safety of the supply chain and even the company s manufacturing contingency plan to determine the areas of greatest risk and offer solutions to reduce risk. Our detailed risk assessments are a proactive way for companies to identify any business interruptions that could impact the viability of a brand and its value in the marketplace. STR Risk Assessment delivers unparalleled quality solutions no matter where you source in the world: Product Evaluation includes laboratory testing, reverse engineering, comparative product evaluation, product cost analysis, packaging and labeling reviews and marketing claims substantiation. Manufacturing Audits and Inspections include factory capabilities audits, cgmp and cglp audits, social and environmental audits, housekeeping inspections, sanitation inspection, production and pre-shipment and loading inspections. Supply Chain Assessments include political and regulatory assessment, factory outsourcing and transportation analysis, contingency plan review, and security evaluation. What distinguishes STR Risk Assessment: Our expertise in technical risk assessment, focus on consumer products, customized multidisciplinary approach and the ability to align our capabilities to your unique needs makes STR a perfect third party quality assurance partner.

4 Audits: cgmp Compliance Accredited Management System Certification STR-Registrar, LLC, the certification division of STR, provides globally accepted and accredited management systems registration. This helps clients improve their customers satisfaction, enhance their competitive advantage, lower trade barriers, improve product consistency and quality and increase overall organizational performance and profitability. Whether a client is approaching registration for the first time, or seeking to transfer to a new registrar, STR-R s individualized approach to the project helps clients meet their goals. STR Registrar, LLC delivers unparalleled management system audit and certification solutions worldwide: Second & Third Party OTC drug, dietary supplement, cosmetic, food and medical device cgmp auditing services BRC Food Management System Certifications meeting the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Toy Industry Association, Toy Safety Certification Program SM Factory Audits Toy Safety Certification Program SM product Certifying Body Services ISO 9001:2000 Management System Certifications OHSAS 18001:2007 Management System Certifications ANSI/AIHA Z10 Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certifications CSA Z1000:2006 Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certifications ISO Environmental Management System Certifications AS 9100 and AS 9120 Aerospace Management System Certifications What Distinguishes STR-Registrar s auditing and certification services: We partner closely with our clients to offer value added auditing, real time electronically available reporting and certification services utilizing hundreds of experienced and certified audit professionals in over 30 countries worldwide.

5 Manufacturing & Social Audits A factory s ability to deliver a quality product while being fair to its workers and the environment is now an essential part of a viable brand. By ensuring your business partners share your operational, social and environmental values, you can manage risk to your brand equity. An STR audit leaves nothing to chance. It assesses all the critical points in the sourcing process to help ensure a factory meets quality, safety, legal and social standards while making certain they have the best ability to produce your product. STR Audits deliver unparalleled quality solutions, no matter where you source in the world: Factory capability audit Assurance that manufacturing capacity, quality requirements and scheduling can be met. Social assessment Evaluation of labor standards, environmental health and safety, and legal and ethical responsibilities in factories and on farms. Good Manufacturing Practice (cgmp) audit An assessment of best practices as they relate to methods, equipment, facilities, production controls and particularly regulated industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics. What distinguishes STR Audits: With custom audit tools, consumer product expertise and experienced auditors in all the major producing countries, STR can effectively audit every aspect of the production process.

6 Consumer Product Inspections Ensuring your contract manufacturers adhere to your company s strict quality requirements is one of your most difficult jobs. STR s in-depth inspection system can help to detect variances at the factory or warehouse during TOP, In-Process and /or final stages of production. With experienced hardlines and softlines technical staff on six continents, STR can design and implement a global inspection program that will meet your quality assurance needs. STR Inspections deliver unparalleled quality solutions, no matter where you source in the world: Top of Production (TOP) Inspections are performed at the start of production while the first several dozen pieces are being produced. The product is evaluated for conformance with the client s specifications. In-Process Quality Checks (DUPRO) provide a snapshot of the factory s operations at predetermined points after production has started, but before the majority of the order is completed. Final Random Inspections (Pre-shipment) are conducted before the product leaves the warehouse. These inspections serve as a vital final check on product quality, packaging, shipment quantities, product labeling, carbon markings and any other areas of concern. Loading Inspections are conducted to ensure that the correct product, in the right quantity is being loaded at the factory and at the port, with up-to-the-minute shipping schedule information. What distinguishes STR Inspections: STR has an experienced worldwide team in place with expertise in nearly every consumer product category. Our quality assurance inspections, conducted at the factory, warehouse or port, are a cost effective means to help ensure that products meet your quality standards prior to shipment.

7 Responsible Sourcing Solutions Businesses need to consider their social and environmental performance as much as their financial performance. STR is dedicated to helping companies better understand how human rights, global sourcing and ethical performance intersect. STR Responsible Sourcing delivers innovative solutions to social and environmental concerns, no matter where you source in the world: Program Development and Management We help clients establish, assess, track, and measure program effectiveness and supplier cooperation. Drawing from our extensive industry knowledge and best practices, we can build a customized program for your needs. Expanded Services Value-added services include investor social due diligence audits, anti-counterfeit audits, chain of custody audits, ethics program development, and CSR report verification and consulting. Publications STR has comprehensive responsible sourcing libraries including country labor law profiles, annual CSR risk index, global minimum wage lists, and best practices manuals. Monitoring Annually, STR conducts over 16,000 audits of factories, farms, processing plants and warehouses in more than 100 countries. We are accredited monitors for WRAP, ICTI and SA8000. We are also active in a broad range of monitoring initiatives like BSCI, EICC, SEDEX, ICS, and FFC. Training and Education STR, an IACET authorized provider of training and education, offers a wide array of responsible sourcing and continuous improvement programs. What distinguishes STR Responsible Sourcing Services: STR is a trusted global provider of monitoring, training, and consulting services that help clients reach their responsible sourcing goals and manage sourcing risk. Consultation and Engagement We design and manage multi-stakeholder initiatives, custom research projects and other activities that help clients to further their ethical business practices. STR 10-09

8 Sensory Evaluation Does your product look, smell, feel, or taste the way consumers expect it to? These sensory attributes can drive consumer choices and determine whether a product succeeds in the marketplace. STR s experts can help determine if your product has acceptable sensory attributes that influence consumer purchase decisions and build brand loyalty. STR Sensory Evaluation delivers unparalleled quality solutions: Consumer panels Focus groups Trained panels Technical panels Claims validation Sensory quality programs Strategic category appraisal research Product optimization Shelf life studies What distinguishes STR Sensory Evaluation: Our ability to combine sensory services with physical and analytical testing makes us the preferred sensory services provider to the consumer products industry.

9 Store Brand Quality Smart retailers know that investing in store brand quality and safety programs builds consumer brand loyalty and grows market share. For over 50 years, STR has played an integral role in the continuous quality improvement of many leading private label products. Our quality assurance programs are designed to help retailers and the manufacturers who supply their store brands better manage their supply chain and achieve product success in STR Retailer Quality Programs deliver unparalleled quality solutions no matter where you source in the world: Testing and Quality Assurance Our product evaluations include analytical, microbiological, physical, performance, and sensory testing. Supplier Selection STR works with retailers to assess prospective suppliers, to develop quality protocols, and to monitor suppliers throughout the entire supply chain. Sensory Evaluation Our ability to combine sensory services with physical and analytical testing makes us the preferred sensory services provider to the consumer products industry. Audits We provide independent audits on manufacturing capabilities, QA systems, regulatory compliance, social compliance, and environmental performance. Supply Chain Risk Assessments STR s supply chain risk assessments include regulatory and political assessment, factory outsourcing and transportation analysis, contingency plan review, and security evaluation. Technically Advanced Quality Assurance (TAQA ) STR s TAQA testing includes product risk assessment, new product quality substantiation, product testing, and performance testing/sensory evaluation. What distinguishes STR s Retailer Quality Programs STR s customized programs for store brand retailers and manufacturers help build quality into a product. Our technical team has in-depth knowledge of consumer products along with the ability to identify specific problems and provide immediate and effective solutions.