Secure Reliability

A good sample doesn’t always mean a reliable supplier. Many look great on the first order, then stumble once production scales up. That’s why the final sourcing step is to secure reliability: making sure your supplier can deliver the same quality, on time, again and again.

Reliability is about more than the product. It’s about communication, consistency, and accountability. Some suppliers send their best work for samples, but then cut corners later. Others accept your order but pass it off to a lower-tier subcontractor. That’s why you need to look beyond the item in your hand and test the partnership itself.

Here’s how to secure reliability:

• Ask about capacity. Can they handle your order size now, and larger orders later?
• Confirm timelines in writing. Get clear commitments on production lead time and shipping windows.
• Check responsiveness. How quickly do they reply to your questions? A slow supplier now will be slower when things go wrong.
• Request consistency checks. Ask how they ensure quality from batch to batch.