IT IS TIME TO PUT A LID ON SOURCING GOODS

By Dr. Abasher Elhaj
Trade plays an axial role in the convergence between civilizations, cultures, religions among people and nations, where the primary role has centered on the flow of goods, capital, and human resources. The prophet Mohamed (P.B.O.H) was keen to travel his companions in the corner of the earth to search for their livelihood; he educated them to be active and in good manner in trading. As a result of being sincere and honest merchants, a number of people, who dealt with Muslims, converted to Islam off hand. Being felicitous businessman, so much depends on reputation. Recently, a lot of novice tradesmen have emerged in the word of business in Sudan stuffing the country with superfluous items imported from China. They have nothing to do with business, but they had the privilege of being affiliated to Islamist regime. That is why it is difficult for them to guard their reputation.
It is bitter to see Sudanese houses flooded with law quality stuff imported from China, and there is a Chinese item in almost all aspects of our lives- the medicine, the electrical machinery, the toys, the garlic, and the like. However, not everything that is imported from China is crap. Their top-of-the line semiconductor fabrication plants are the best in the world, for example. What are the pitfalls with these products?
Sudanese Standards and Meteorology Authority is supposed to be in charge of every item that is imported. However, it has been absent minded and floated in a pond of corruption from head to toe, importing the sound and the wicked. As this authority is responsible for people’s health, it can check the quality in case it is not up to par with its specs, and it can ask for the pre-production process and evaluate the prototype to ensure that product meets its expectations.
In spite of the fact that Chinese factories compete with foreign ones in product quality, our debutant importers sourcing from China continue to receive poor quality products. Most of them seem to seek the highest product quality, while simultaneously pushing suppliers for lowest possible price, but most of these importers do not recognize that poor quality is often introduced by design, not necessity; this where the adage, “you get what you pay for”, applies. For example, when an importer wants to manufacture a product, let’s say a faucet, he visits the showroom and sees a dazzling array of beautiful faucets. Impressed with what he sees, he negotiates for the lowest possible price; he puts a deposit down on the first order. When he receives the finished faucets, he is distraught to find that the product bears little resemblance to the faucet he saw in the showroom, it is made with far lower-grade raw material than he expected and it is defective. Due to lacking compunction and abundant of avarice, this importer overwhelms the local markets with overpriced and horrendous quality goods.
The reduction in price is almost always met with a similar reduction in the quality of the finished goods. This forces the supplier to make cuts in the faces of lower quality product; that is to say, the upshot of cheap booze is a false economy that depletes all aspects of sustenance.
Lack of clear product specification is another plague that our importers stand up to because most of them do not have business fundamentals. They do not adequately clarify product requirements; often receive goods that do not meet consumers’ expectation. Those businessmen create uncertainty about their requirements; they are often not aware of or they miss details from a purchase order. They bewilder the supplier; so, the he fills in the gaps, guessing at what the importers want rather than to ask them to clarify.
The authority has to tee off strict rules for sourcing products. Selecting reliable suppliers is very essential. Importers can attend commercial shows where they can work with professionals of sourcing goods. If this is not potential, they can ask for vendor’s profile, and consult online databases. Chamber in charge of importing goods has to seek for references, and copies of certificates of the supplier; this fences that these products are based on ISO 9001.
Checking goods off-shores is highly important since sending items without any control would be very risky and there is no guarantee the quality would be as anticipated. Tests should be carried out to ensure good functionality strength and conformity according to specific standards and regulations of the country of origin so as to secure the quality of imported items.
In sum, it is under the greatest consciousness that there exists the greatest potential for importing good quality items both for oneself and others. We deserve paragon and efficient importers whose pockets are not spoiled by greediness and nasty deeds. The meant authority has to boost those opulent mentalities as quality is the result of intelligent effort.
hajabasher@gmail.com