Homewares retailer cut social & ethical non-compliance by 37% with Optimus corrective action management

What we did

We deployed Optimus corrective action management across the retailer’s priority supplier
base. Existing audit findings and supplier self-assessments were consolidated into a single
source of truth, including a live register of non-conformances. Each finding was converted
into a trackable corrective action with clear owners, due dates and evidence requirements.

Suppliers received expert support – root-cause analysis templates, short trainings and
practical guidance -and could upload proof directly through Optimus. Buyers and
compliance teams received automated reminders, escalation prompts for overdue actions,
and real-time dashboards highlighting current risks by site and category.

Optimus’ trend analysis surfaced recurring issues and grouped root causes (e.g., incomplete
time records, weak H&S supervision), helping suppliers fix systems rather than treat
symptoms. In higher-risk scenarios we added targeted spot checks and short remote
verifications to confirm that corrective actions worked in practice.

Outcomes

Within six months, open social & ethical non-compliances fell by 37%, and average closure
time dropped from months to weeks. Duplicate actions reduced materially, supplier response
rates improved as expectations became clearer, and buyers and compliance teams spent
less time chasing updates. The business could evidence remediation by country, factory and
risk category in a single click – enabling smoother conversations with key partners and
internal leadership.

Why it worked

• • One source of truth: every finding, action and evidence item in one Optimus
    workflow.

• • Clarity for suppliers: standardised CAP templates and practical guidance.

• • Accountability: named owners, due dates and automated nudges kept pace.

• • Assurance: selective spot checks validated real change, not just paperwork.

What’s next

The retailer is extending Optimus to more sites across the supply chain, adding worker-voice
checks in higher-risk regions, and embedding quarterly assurance reviews so improvements
endure be