The issue of ethical sourcing is a point of contention among procurement and supply chain professionals. The general sentiment is that the balancing act of being globally competitive and remaining a genuine corporate citizen is getting harder and harder. This is especially true for the rag trade. Apparel companies are consistently faced with the challenge of reducing costs while upholding ethical labour practices within their supply chain. How procurement and supply chain professionals in the sector manage this plays an increasingly important role in protecting company margins, brand reputation and growth. So what are the issues and factors at play and how can the risks involved be managed?

Centric Software Inc., a provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software for the retail, apparel, footwear, luxury and consumer goods industries, has opened its first Asian office, in Shanghai, China.

Arena Solutions Inc., a vendor of cloud-based applications for product lifecycle management, has integrated Arena PLM with the electronic components information database of SiliconExpert Technologies.

Icix, a vendor of applications for global supply-chain risk management, has developed Direct Test.

As companies shift manufacturing back from Asia to the western hemisphere, they are increasingly looking at Mexico as an alternative for low-cost production. Matt Hamson, chief executive officer of Coronado Logistics Inc., outlines the country's pros and cons.