Mattel's Global Crisis

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1. Mattel’s global sourcing in China, like all other toy manufacturers, was based on both low-cost labor, and a growing critical mass of factories competitively vying for contract manufacturing business. Do you think the product recalls and product quality problems are separate from or part of pursuing a low-cost country strategy? No, I do not think that the product recalls and product quality problems are separate from or part of pursuing a low-cost country strategy. There are many industries have been using the low-cost country strategy for their sourcing for many years, so when there are any cost increases on the cost producing the products, the suppliers will try to reduce their cost by using all the ways. To reduce the cost, the suppliers will change their raw materials very often. They will change the original materials to something that is similar, cheaper and have got good at passing audits and appearing compliant without actually being compliant . The reason why the suppliers choose to use the impermissible level of lead paint to reduce their cost is because this impermissible level of lead paint is cheaper than the paint that is ordered and specified by Mattel, especially when they were facing the problem of competitive cost pressure in China. For example, rising wage rates, a shortage of skilled labor in coastal provinces, escalating material and commodity prices. Some of these problems have been motivation for suppliers to cut corner and costs. In conclusion, the product recalls and product quality problem have a strong relationship with the pursuing low-cost country strategy. All these issues are part and parcel of this off shoring or best shoring business

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