Hermes-OTTO International extends its portfolio

Hermes-Otto International (H-OI), part of the Hermes Group of companies and a subsidiary of the Otto Group, is to offer services covering auditing and quality control in key sourcing markets as well as IT-based supply chain solutions.
The new company ASTRA Supply Chain Services Ltd focuses on providing services to the textile industry.

Since the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Dhaka in 2013, high standards of safety and compliance have become a major global issue

H-OI recognised this at an early stage and has whole-heartedly supported industry initiatives. In the course of its international growth, H-OI has placed great value on social and quality audits: “We regularly check the quality and social standards of all the suppliers in our network. This has enabled us to build up extensive expertise and highly trained staff, and we are now looking to provide these resources especially to clients in the textile sector,” explains Michael Dumke, CEO of Hermes-OTTO International. In addition, ASTRA is an auditing company accredited in line with the internationally recognised WRAP standards (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production).

With offices in Hong Kong and Dhaka, Bangladesh – a country booming as a production land – the company offers quality control, auditing and supply chain services in all key sourcing markets. ASTRA is therefore a perfect complement to the existing portfolio of the Hermes Group, which renders clients all relevant services along the retail supply chain.

As well as auditing, ASTRA provides additional services in the field of quality control and IT-based supply chain management services and maintains inspection centres in key sourcing regions including Dhaka, Shanghai, Qingdao, Bangkok, Tirupur, Mumbai, Istanbul and Izmir. Final product checks are carried out by specialists on site in a neutral environment. Moreover, qualified inspectors also run quality checks in the factories themselves where producers can react immediately to any defects uncovered.

Sandra Vollmert, managing director of ASTRA remarks: “We offer depth of experience when it comes to product, quality and compliance. This means that we start with a good understanding of the needs of our clients which helps us appreciate the growing significance of transparency along the global supply chain. This is why ASTRA and its services has the right approach.”