Inspections covering 39,000 workers
In 1999 when GoodWeave’s U.S. organization was founded, it began working with FileMaker Business Alliance Member Colibri Solutions, LLC to create a custom database that streamlined nearly every aspect of the nonprofit’s operations. Today, the FileMaker solution helps the headquarters staff manage communications, website updates, fundraising and financial management. Believing in the GoodWeave cause, Colibri has contributed much of the development work pro bono.
“In any nonprofit, the priority is to make the work sustainable, and this includes raising and using money effectively,” says Smith. “Without our FileMaker solution, it would be nearly impossible to manage our funding relationships.”
In addition to fund development management, GoodWeave uses FileMaker to track supply chain inspection data. Currently, forty-five field personnel complete inspections and report on close to 3,500 factory inspections annually covering 39,000 plus workers. The inspections are difficult, because the carpet-making trade is a cottage industry dispersed among tens of thousands small factories, village “loom-sheds” and even inside of homes.
During inspections more than 65 data points are collected, such as the makeup of the workforce and the exporter employing the factory. Inspections are sensitive due to poor working conditions, and information gathered almost always pertains to children. Findings need to be kept secure through role-based, password-protected access.
If child labor violations are found and children are rescued, then GoodWeave provides them with a range of social services. The ultimate aim is to get them enrolled in school with GoodWeave support– and, whenever possible, reunited with their families. All of these efforts require lock-step logistics and an extreme need for confidentiality.
Inspections today are still conducted on paper because inspectors work in areas where electricity and Internet access are sporadic. The data is uploaded to a central FileMaker Server at headquarters for analysis and action. GoodWeave, however, plans to accelerate inspections in the future by replacing paper with iPads and FileMaker Go.
