Scaling Compliance and Efficiency: How Inspectorio is Powering Sae-A’s Global Supply Chain Transformation

In the rapidly evolving apparel manufacturing industry, Sae-A stands out not only for its size—with over 60,000 associates in more than 10 countries—but also for its commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. To enhance visibility and streamline operations, Sae-A partnered with Inspectorio in January 2020 for a key client, boosting operational efficiency by using Inspectorio’s Quality Risk Management platform (QRM).  This partnership evolved with Sae-A’s adoption of Inspectorio’s Responsible Sourcing & Compliance platform (RSC), including:

• 917 assessments conducted across network: This extensive evaluation has enabled Sae-A to harness comprehensive data, empowering leadership with actionable insights for precision in strategic decision-making. This level of analysis supports robust supply chain management and drives continuous improvement across global operations.
• 361 CAPAs generated: Demonstrating the robust impact of the Inspectorio platform on compliance, these corrective and preventive actions have not only enhanced operational reliability but also significantly reduced risk. This has resulted in improved product quality and compliance rates, ensuring Sae-A remains ahead in market standards and customer satisfaction.

About the Company

Since 1986, Sae-A has become a leader in the global apparel industry. Known for its comprehensive vertical integration, spanning from yarn production to retail operations, Sae-A excels not only in manufacturing but also as a dedicated community advocate. The company prides itself on stringent environmental standards, active engagement in local communities, and providing advancement opportunities for its workforce. Operating in more than 40 locations worldwide, Sae-A produces 2.6 million articles of clothing daily and reports an annual turnover of $3.5 billion.

Challenges

Before partnering with Inspectorio, Sae-A experienced hurdles due to its reliance on emails and a patchwork of unconnected platforms. These challenges hampered their operational efficiency and brought inconvenience in managing information on audit data. This resulted in:

• Limited visibility: Sae-A has seen opportunity to improve oversight of its extensive, complex supply chain operations with real-time data and insights. This is necessary to enhance their ability to manage dynamically and respond proactively to market changes.
• Need for data transparency: The existing compliance communication method required upgrade to align with all parties in the supply chain. Such platform would allow real-time access to compliance data for factory, vendor, and buyer at the same time.
• Need for a centralized data platform: There was a critical requirement for a unified platform capable of managing extensive data efficiently. Such a platform would enhance supplier performance monitoring and facilitate better decision-making across the organization.

Solution

Sae-A’s digital transformation journey began seven years ago, driven by a major client’s need for enhanced social compliance disclosure. By adopting Inspectorio’s Quality Risk Management solution, followed by the Responsible Sourcing & Compliance solution, Sae-A’s social compliance and environmental sustainability teams established a robust, integrated system tailored to their strategic goals.

“Our partnership with Inspectorio allowed us to integrate a sophisticated, easy-to-use system that aligned perfectly with our internal platforms, simplifying many of our existing processes,”
Jessy Han, CIC – Social Compliance Assistant Manager at Sae-A.

Enhanced Operational Processes

Inspectorio’s platform provides real-time insights into supplier performance and compliance to social and environmental standards, enhancing Sae-A’s ability to effectively manage its supply chain. This capability is essential for maintaining Sae-A’s competitive edge and fulfilling its sustainability goals. The platform’s smooth integration with existing systems enables smarter, data-driven decisions and centralized operational management, ensuring Sae-A remains agile and compliant in a dynamic market environment.

“Sae-A’s ESG team has an internal data-collection platform for tracking environmental data such as energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation. However, it lacks facility-level environmental management plans and performance monitoring. Inspectorio’s Responsible Sourcing & Compliance platform has stepped in to meet this need,”
Barry Choi, Senior Associate, ESG Team at Sae-A.

Effective Data Management and Communication

The centralized platform ensures all stakeholders have instant access to key information, reducing reliance on outdated communication methods such as emails. This enhanced accessibility empowers Sae-A to proactively manage its operations, boosting responsiveness and increasing operational agility. The result is a more streamlined workflow that supports rapid decision-making and effective problem-solving across the organization.

Strengthened Supplier and Partner Relationships

Inspectorio has optimized Sae-A’s interactions with suppliers by enhancing the efficiency and transparency of compliance management and data sharing. This improvement facilitates stronger, more collaborative relationships with its global partners, fostering an environment of mutual trust and streamlined communication. The result is a robust network that not only meets compliance standards but also thrives through cooperative engagement.

Results

“Our collaboration with Inspectorio has helped us efficiently respond to a major client’s data requirements,”
Barry Choi, Senior Associate, ESG Team at Sae-A.

Streamlined CAPA Management

Inspectorio’s platform has transformed how Sae-A manages CAPAs, shifting from manual spreadsheets to a sophisticated digital system. This transformation has simplified workflows, reduced paperwork, and improved the accuracy and tracking of CAPAs. As a result, Sae-A experiences quicker resolution of issues and increased operational efficiency.

Centralized Communication

Inspectorio’s system has helped enhance Sae-A’s task coordination with a major client by minimizing the need for Excel files and ensuring tasks are clearly assigned and tracked. The platform’s unified approach fosters team collaboration, making it easier for Sae-A to work together with clients seamlessly. This centralized communication strategy has helped boost productivity and operational effectiveness.

Enhanced Oversight and Environmental Involvement

Inspectorio’s platform has markedly enhanced Sae-A’s ESG team oversight of environmental standards and third-party compliance. The ability to monitor conditions in real-time and address issues promptly provides Sae-A with advanced warnings about factory ratings. This proactive approach allows for timely interventions and a deeper understanding of compliance reports. By centralizing report uploads, Inspectorio ensures that Sae-A can maintain a comprehensive overview of factory performances, thereby avoiding surprises and fostering an environment of continuous improvement and responsible practices.

Delivering Value Through Strategic Innovation

Inspectorio’s solutions have fundamentally enhanced Sae-A’s compliance and supply chain operations, empowering the company to uphold high-quality standards and foster sustainable growth throughout its expansive global network. This transformation underscores the immense strategic value of adopting digital technologies to maintain a competitive edge in the fast-paced apparel industry.

For more insights into how Inspectorio can transform your quality control and compliance efforts, visit inspectorio.com.