ATI Service Sourcing

Background & Client Sourcing Goal

A national discount retail chain operating stores across Australia wanted to source a new range of home organizers, stainless steel kitchen canisters, and bathroom storage racks. They needed a partner who could manage high-volume production, coordinate mixed-SKU container loading, and perform strict pre-shipment quality testing across multiple Zhejiang manufacturers.

Supply Chain & Technical Challenges

Managing mixed container shipments from multiple suppliers involves significant coordination. The primary challenges included:

• Lead Time Coordination: Syncing production schedules across 4 different factories to ensure all items arrive at our consolidation warehouse on time.
• Food-Contact Safety: Verifying that kitchen canisters comply with Australian food safety guidelines (BPA-free and heavy-metal free).
• Loading Space Optimization: Maximizing shipping container space utilization (CBM) to lower shipping costs per unit.

Factory Selection & Quality Inspection

We audited and selected 4 manufacturers in Yiwu and Yongkang. Our local quality team supervised the entire production and loading process:

• Food Safety Checks: Testing stainless steel canister samples in a lab to verify food-contact safety compliance (FDA/LFGB).
• Drop Testing: Performing standard carton drop tests (ISTA 1A) to verify packaging durability and protect items during transit.
• Consolidation Control: Managing cargo receiving, sorting, and palletizing at our Yiwu depot, building stable mixed containers.

Shipping Consolidation & Outcomes

We loaded the consolidated cargo into 40HQ containers, maximizing space utilization to 98% capacity. The shipment arrived at the Port of Melbourne under ChAFTA tariff concessions, reducing overall sourcing costs by 19.8% compared to their previous importing channel.