Got An Overseas Plant? Scrutinize Working Conditions.

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012, "Hat Made Anywhere, World"

It's 3:00 a.m. local time.  Do you know where your products are made?  What about the conditions in the factory -- have you visited it lately to witness firsthand?

If you are uncomfortable addressing these questions, you better read:

Factory fire in Bangladesh ignites scrutiny over working conditions, overseas practices.

Here's the drift:

The garment factory in Bangladesh where 112 people were killed in a fire had been making clothes for Wal-Mart, Disney, Sears and other major global retailers — some of whom say they thought they had stopped doing business with the place.

The apparent confusion underscored what some industry experts say is a major obstacle to improving factory safety in developing nations ...

Bottom line:  Monitor your supply chain!  If you don't know who is making your product and under what conditions, who does?