As a set of guiding principles, they also help identify potential problems that can be worked with business partners to address issues of concern as they arise. Business partners develop and implement action plans for continuous improvement in factory working conditions. Progress against these plans is monitored by the business partners themselves, company internal monitoring team and external independent monitors. SOE training courses are imparted to the suppliers" supervisors and managers so that they can introduce the SOE into general and particular issues such as fire safety, chemical handling and labour law.
Adidas-Salomon's strategy is based on a long-term vision of self-governance for its suppliers. Sustainability of operation requires building up capacities in the suppliers" workforces, in their management and in local workers" organisations and NGOs so that acceptable conditions become a routine part of how business is done.
As most of their products are manufactured by independent business partners, the company does not directly control and monitor the factory operations. However, business partners are supported in using resources efficiently. .
Issues in Adidas.
For Adidas living to the standards set by its founder has been sacrosanct .Further more with most of the manufacturing facilities being shifted to cheaper locations, the issues of social responsibility has become prominent. Today a company's reputation for quality lies not just in the product quality (this has become an inherent part of the product) but it goes further into how the company interacts with the environment.
Just few years ago, Adidas India was faced with a chequered performance chart with several hits and misses. The brand's initial distribution license was with Bata India for nearly seven years prior to that, which was the time brand Adidas had to deal with a, `neither here nor there' image.
How to make Adidas more visible?.