Questions used in Better Buying Pilot Test
June 20, 2017
Fall 2016 questions used for the Better Buying pilot test.
QUESTIONS USED FOR PILOT TEST – FALL 2016
Planning and Forecasting
Did you receive a forecast or through other means gain insight into plans for the season? Base response on the largest order during the most recent season.
If you did receive a forecast, how many days in advance of order placement was the forecast provided? Base response on the largest order during the most recent season.
Was the forecast updated regularly (for example monthly)? Did the buyer book capacity in advance of production? Consider volume booked during the last season.
If the buyer booked capacity in advance of production, how much did the actual orders vary compared with the capacity reserved by the buyer? Consider all orders during the last season.
Design and Development
Did you develop products at the request of the buyer?
Of the number of products your company developed at the request of the buyer, what percentage did you receive orders for? Consider all products developed during the last season.
What percent of the buyer’s tech packs were delivered accurately and on time? Consider all products developed during the last season.
Cost and Cost Negotiations
For what percent of the orders, did the price paid by the buyer cover the costs of compliant production? Consider all orders during the last season. Include the costs of wages and benefits; a safe and healthy workplace; non-workplace related compliance; and required audits, assessments and certifications.
Sourcing and Order Placement
What incentives did the buyer provide for compliance/CSR? Consider all orders during the last season. Check all that apply.
Provide the total unit volume of all of the buyer orders for each of the last 12 months. If the buyer was added as a customer in mid-year and no orders were received until later in the year, put NA in earlier months with no orders.
Approximately what proportion of the total volume during the 12 months was basic versus fashion products?
Payment and Terms
Were you paid on time and at the price agreed in the contract? Base response on the largest order during the most recent season.
If no, how many days was payment delayed beyond the contracted date? If no, what percent price reduction off the contracted amount was taken by the buyer? Do not include chargebacks due to problems that were your responsibility.
Management of the Purchasing Process
Was there an agreed time and action calendar for pre-production and production deadlines? Base response on the largest order during the most recent season.
If no, did the terms in the purchase order provide enough time for production?
Did the agreed time and action calendar provide enough production lead time? Base response on the largest order during the most recent season.
What percent of deadlines in the agreed time and action calendar were met by the buyer? Base response on the largest order during the most recent season.
Was the buyer flexible and accountable in ensuring adequate production time? Base response on the largest order during the most recent season.
CSR Harmonization
Internal
Did the buyer’s sourcing and/or product-focused staff make demands that conflicted with CSR/ compliance requirements? Consider the business relationship during the last season.
What impact did the conflicts have on working conditions? Check all that apply. Consider the business relationship during the last season.
Industry
Did the buyer accept results from recently completed audits/assessments of workplace conditions at your factories in lieu of requiring new audits specifically for the buyer? Consider the business relationship during the last season.