Sourcing Diversification Risks to Watch Out For

Sourcing diversification is considered as a solid strategy to manage global trade challenges and strengthen supply chain resilience. But diversification without due diligence can introduce new risks rather than reduce them.

Poorly vetted suppliers, financial instability, hidden subcontracting, and cost-cutting practices can threaten product quality, regulatory compliance, and brand reputation.

1. Quality risks

When diversifying your supplier base, the first thing to consider is whether the new suppliers can actually meet your quality standards. It’s one thing to promise quality, and another thing to actually deliver. It’s not enough to assume they can deliver; you have to do the work to confirm it.

Emails and contracts do not always provide the full story – you must visit their facilities, ask questions, and take a closer look at their operations.

Do they have the equipment and capacity to deliver what you need?

Can they maintain the same quality across all production runs?

Do they have documented quality control processes in place?

Are their employment records in order?

These are fundamental checks, but they are essential to making sure you are dealing with a reputable company. Otherwise, you risk introducing vulnerabilities into your global supply chain that set you up for inconsistent product quality, failed audits, and potentially losing an entire season’s worth of inventory due to defects.

This is especially important for high-risk commodities like cotton and fashion, where origin fraud is common.

2. Financial risks and operational stability

Sourcing from new regions means working with suppliers that might not have the same financial stability as more established ones. Some manufacturers in developing regions operate on thin margins and rely on a handful of big customers to stay afloat. If they suddenly lose a contract or face an economic downturn, you could be left without the products you need when you need them most.

Ask yourselves:

Can they withstand unexpected market disruptions?

Do they have the financial resources to scale production when needed?

What happens if they shut down mid-production?

Remember if your supplier goes under, your production timeline goes with it. Without contingency plans in place, you could find yourself scrabbling for replacements, paying premium prices, and missing critical delivery deadlines.

3. Subcontracting risks

One of the biggest blind spots in sourcing is subcontracting. You think you are working with one factory, but without visibility, your orders could be passed down to facilities you have never vetted or even heard of.

You need to go deeper into your supply chain to understand not just who you are working with, but who they are working with, especially if those subcontractors are not compliant with regulations or are linked to entities you would rather avoid.

Regulators expect brands to know not just where your finished products are made, but also where every component and raw material comes from. You need to trace materials all the way back to their sources.

If your supplier is not being upfront about subcontracting, you could be dealing with compliance violations without even realizing it.

4. Risks with cutting corners

Cost is always a factor in sourcing decisions, but it is important to remember that the cheapest option is not always the best one. When suppliers offer extremely low prices, ask why.

How do they manage to hit those numbers?

Do they underpay workers or use forced labor?

Do they use lower-quality materials?

If you don’t dig into these questions, you might find out that a supplier has been cutting corners after a shipment is detained – or worse, after facing a PR nightmare. To avoid such risks, draft contracts that include clear terms on quality standards and compliance expectations, as well as safeguards to protect your brand if things go wrong.

Steps to mitigate risks in sourcing diversification

Sourcing or supplier diversification can strengthen your supply chain, but it has to be done right. Here are a few steps to help minimize the risks:

• Verify the full supply chain: A tier 1 supplier’s reputation and compliance records may look spotless, but if they are not transparent about their upstream suppliers, you could still be at risk. Do your due diligence to make sure they are not quietly outsourcing to high-risk entities.
• Conduct on-site inspections and third-party audits: If you are working with a new supplier, go in person or send auditors to confirm what’s actually happening inside their facilities. Review records and verify claims.
• Verify the material authenticity: Use forensic verification methods to confirm whether materials are coming from the claimed source. If your suppliers know you are testing, they are far less likely to substitute materials without your knowledge.
• Prepare for the unexpected: Do not assume that your new supplier will always be operational – political instability, regulatory changes, and economic downturns can all impact production.
• Build flexibility into your contracts: Set clear expectations for quality, ethical sourcing, and supply chain transparency. Include clauses that allow for changes to the sourcing plan in case of unforeseen circumstances, so you have more options if events outside of your control impact your supplier’s ability to deliver.