NEW YORK, NY. - March 16, 2009 - The Fair Factories Clearinghouse (FFC) announced the launch of industry research, under a grant provided by the Levis Strauss Foundation, to understand the role technology can play in driving success in industry-wide collaboration in supply chain compliance. The FFC also announced its first-ever sweepstakes for a chance to win free FFC membership for one year, for those that participate in the research.

About the Fair Factories Clearinghouse
The Fair Factories Clearinghouse (FFC)'s is a unique non-profit organization whose mission is to enable collaboration in compliance amongst companies using technology, so that it becomes commonplace - resulting in greater efficiency and cost savings, risk mitigation and assurance in factory monitoring for all participants - ultimately leading to improved conditions for workers making consumer products globally.

"Companies seeking to assess and improve the conditions in their supply chain are driving each other and their suppliers crazy "“ multiple standards, competing monitoring systems, similar but different audits of the same supplier, mixed messages down the supply chain, and stretched resources are the norm," said Marianne Voss, the FFC's Executive Director. "While this is inefficient, confusing and expensive, we have yet to achieve industry wide adoption and success in collaboration to address these issues. We think technology may be able to help enable the kind of collaboration necessary to stop the madness of repetitious monitoring and audit fatigue."

The Collaboration Through Technology Research Program
Under a grant provided by the Levis Strauss Foundation, the FFC launched research to identify and understand drivers and opportunities for future innovations in industry-wide collaborative efforts in the supply chain, and the role that technology can play in ensuring their adoption, implementation and success. The FFC is seeking the input of everyone in the industry, government, academia, and non-profit sectors with a stake in the compliance sector. Company participants will be entered in a raffle.

To participate in the survey, please visit:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=hmkXSo045YRqnL_2bexpqOTw_3d_3d

"We need your views on collaboration and how technology can enable it. We want to learn about current practices, collaboration aspirations, and your perceptions on drivers and/or barriers to sharing. We'll also ask your opinions on a few ideas we have on how technology can facilitate collaboration," said Ms. Voss.

The project will result in a Business Plan that would assess the potential success, impacts and cost of technology solutions that drive innovative collaboration programs. The Business Plan will be, prior to finalization, subject to peer review to ensure the plan is viable to a large community.

Win a Chance for Free FFC Membership
The FFC also announced a sweepstakes for a chance to win free membership; for non-FFC affiliated companies whose representatives participate in the research. Each company representative who completes a survey will get an entry on behalf of their company to a raffle, to win "free membership" consisting of waived annual dues for FFC membership for one year.

"With only 15 minutes, you can help set the direction of the collaboration and guide what the industry can do to support and take advantage of shared efforts to create more effective and efficient supply chain practices for you and the industry," said Ms. Voss. "We need you to help the thousands of factory workers who make the products you use every day, as they will benefit the most when the industry adopts an efficient and cost-effective way to ensure decent working conditions."

About the Fair Factories Clearinghouse
The FFC is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of New York in 2004. The FFC is supported through contributions and membership fees from retail associations and participating companies and through grants, including funding provided by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

The FCC's growing membership includes adidas Group, ASICS America, ASICS Europe, Dress Barn, the Fair Labor Association, J.Crew, Levi Strauss & Co, L.L. Bean, Macy's Merchandising Group, Mark's Work Wearhouse, Nike Inc., Nordstrom, Patagonia, the Starbucks Coffee Company, the Timberland Company, and VF Corporation. We also have partnerships with the National Retail Federation and the Retail Council of Canada.

Fair Factories Clearinghouse

Fair Factories Clearinghouse

The Fair Factories Clearinghouse (FFC)'s is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 with a simple but innovative idea: offer software to companies, within a collaborative membership community. FFC One World is “A Collaborative Workplace.” In CSR, sharing information and experience results in greater knowledge overall, and this means progress. Through sharing and collaboration, beginners can gain from people with more experience. Small enterprises can learn from larger companies with greater resources and risk management backgrounds. A motive in common is to improve human rights and environmental working conditions around the world. Within the collaborative community are answers to many questions. Join. Ask. Share. Become part of the Fair Factories Clearinghouse partnership--support and take advantage of shared efforts to create more effective and efficient monitoring practices for you and the industry.

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