Article: Can Global Brands Create Just Supply Chains? https://bostonreview.net/forum/can-global-brands-create-just-supply-chains-richard-locke/
I began studying Nike because I was impressed with its commitment to labor standards. After several years of effort, with many conversations and visits to corporate headquarters, I convinced the company to share its factory audit reports and facilitate visits to its suppliers. Eventually my case study evolved into a full-fledged research project involving the collection, coding, and analysis of thousands of factory audit reports; more than 700 interviews with company managers, factory directors, NGO representatives, and government labor inspectors; and field research in 120 factories in fourteen different countries. What began as a study of one company (Nike) in a particular industry (athletic footwear) grew to include several global corporations competing in different industries, with different supply chain dynamics, operating across numerous national boundaries.
Virtually all NIKE, Inc. materials and finished products are sourced from, or manufactured by, independent suppliers that also make or provide products for other global companies. That means that NIKE does not own, operate or employ workers at these locations. NIKE also has license agreements that permit unaffiliated parties to manufacture and sell products using NIKE-owned trademarks. The suppliers featured on this map are those used by NIKE, Inc., licensees or agents to manufacture finished goods, as well as materials suppliers.