Hi-Fella Insights

How to Finding Manufacturers and Calculating Cost of Goods Manufactured

In today’s competitive business landscape, finding manufacturers rightly and accurately calculating the cost of goods manufactured are two pivotal steps that can make or break a product’s success. Whether you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or product manager, understanding these aspects is essential for efficient production and overall profitability. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of identifying suitable manufacturers and demystify the calculation of cost of goods manufactured.

Finding the Right Manufacturer: A Step-by-Step Approach

When it comes to bringing your product to life, partnering with the right manufacturer is crucial. Here’s a step-by-step approach to help you find the ideal manufacturing partner for your product:

  1. Define Your Product Specifications:
    Begin by clearly defining your product specifications, including design, materials, and production quantity. This information will serve as a foundation for communicating with potential manufacturers.
  2. Research and Shortlist:
    Conduct thorough research to identify potential manufacturers that align with your product’s requirements. Online platforms like Hi-Fella (https://hi-fella.com/) offer a bridge between buyers and sellers, streamlining the search process.
  3. Check Credentials:
    Verify the credentials, certifications, and past work of the manufacturers on your shortlist. This will ensure that they have the necessary expertise and experience to handle your product.
  4. Request Quotes:
    Reach out to your shortlisted manufacturers and request detailed quotes. These should include production costs, lead times, and any additional charges.
  5. Assess Communication:
    Effective communication is key to a successful partnership. Evaluate the manufacturer’s responsiveness, willingness to accommodate your needs, and ability to understand your vision.
  6. Visit Facilities (if possible):
    If feasible, visit the manufacturing facilities to gain firsthand insights into their operations, quality control processes, and overall capabilities.
  7. Negotiate and Finalize:
    After assessing the quotes and gathering necessary information, negotiate the terms and finalize the agreement with the chosen manufacturer.

Calculating the Cost of Goods Manufactured: Insights for Clarity

Understanding the cost of goods manufactured is essential for pricing your product competitively and managing your business finances effectively. Follow these steps to calculate this crucial metric:

  1. Direct Materials:
    Sum up the cost of raw materials used in production. This includes everything from basic components to packaging materials.
  2. Direct Labor:
    Calculate the cost of labor directly involved in manufacturing your product. This includes wages, benefits, and other related costs.
  3. Manufacturing Overhead:
    Consider indirect costs like utilities, rent, machinery depreciation, and maintenance. Allocate these costs based on factors like labor hours or machine usage.
  4. Beginning Work-in-Progress Inventory:
    If there’s unfinished production from the previous period, account for its cost.
  5. Ending Work-in-Progress Inventory:
    Similar to the beginning inventory, calculate the value of unfinished products at the end of the period.
  6. Total Manufacturing Costs:
    Sum up the costs from steps 1 to 5 to get the total manufacturing costs.
  7. Calculate Cost of Goods Manufactured:
    Subtract the value of the beginning work-in-progress inventory from the total manufacturing costs, and then add the ending work-in-progress inventory.

Finding Manufacturers in the Right Platform

For those seeking a seamless connection to manufacturers, Hi-Fella is the go-to platform. Hi-Fella is a dynamic marketplace connecting buyers to sellers, which includes a variety of manufacturers. Their user-friendly interface and extensive network can be your stepping stone towards finding the perfect manufacturing partner.

The journey to success in the business world is marked by the strategic selection of manufacturers and the ability to calculate the cost of goods manufactured accurately. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate these critical processes. Remember, the right manufacturer and a solid grasp of cost calculations are the cornerstones of a thriving business.

Unlock new possibilities for your business today by visiting Hi-Fella andd taking the first step towards successful manufacturing partnerships.

About Author

Vania Sulistiano

Vania Sulistiano

Leave a Reply

Other Article

The Intersection of Religion and International Business: Understanding Pope Leo's Influence
The Intersection of Religion and International Business: Understanding Pope Leo's Influence
In today’s global marketplace, business decisions are shaped by a complex web of economic, political,...
Read More
Pope Leo’s Emphasis on Social Justice: Implications for Corporate Governance and ESG Reporting Pope Leo XIII might not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking about supply chains, board structures, or ESG metrics—but perhaps he should be. In 1891, with the encyclical Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII became one of the earliest modern figures to articulate a systematic philosophy of social justice grounded in dignity, fairness, and responsibility within economic life. Over a century later, his message is finding surprising resonance in boardrooms, compliance frameworks, and ESG reports. As global businesses, particularly those operating across borders in the export-import arena, face mounting scrutiny over how they treat workers, engage communities, and protect the environment, the principles championed by Pope Leo offer more than ethical guidance. They offer a blueprint for long-term, resilient corporate governance. Revisiting Rerum Novarum: The Origins of Modern Social Doctrine Issued in response to the harsh conditions of the industrial revolution, Rerum Novarum—Latin for “Of New Things”—was Pope Leo XIII’s response to capitalism’s rapid evolution. The encyclical didn’t condemn free markets outright but warned against the dehumanisation of labour and unchecked industrial power. Its key tenets included: The right to private property, balanced by the obligation to use it responsibly. The dignity of labour and the necessity of a living wage. The importance of trade unions and collective bargaining. The role of the state in protecting vulnerable populations. A critique of both unregulated capitalism and radical socialism. In effect, Leo XIII laid out a social framework that prioritised human dignity over profit maximisation. And while this doctrine was originally written for a 19th-century Europe grappling with mechanisation and urban poverty, its philosophical architecture is highly relevant to today’s conversations on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. From Papal Doctrine to ESG Standards: The Bridge ESG has become the de facto language for expressing how corporations manage risks and opportunities beyond traditional financial metrics. But at its core, ESG is about values translated into systems: how we treat people, how we steward resources, and how we design institutions to be accountable. In this context, Pope Leo’s teachings become not only compatible with ESG but foundational to it. Consider the thematic overlap: Social justice aligns with Social (S) in ESG, covering labour conditions, employee wellbeing, and equitable supply chains. Ethical use of property aligns with Governance (G), touching on shareholder responsibility, executive accountability, and ethical decision-making. Concern for the common good parallels Environmental (E) imperatives, especially the long-term view of sustainability and stewardship. This is particularly relevant for multinational export-import players who straddle jurisdictions, labour regimes, and supply chains that often include both highly regulated markets and vulnerable geographies. Corporate Governance: A New Moral Imperative Corporate governance is no longer just about fiduciary responsibility and compliance checklists. Boards are now expected to think critically about systemic risks—climate, inequality, supply chain fragility—and to embed values into business models. This is where Pope Leo’s influence becomes strategically significant. His emphasis on subsidiarity, a principle later elaborated in Catholic social teaching, holds that decisions should be made at the lowest competent level. Applied to corporate governance, this suggests empowering local suppliers, decentralising certain ESG strategies, and trusting community-rooted partners rather than imposing top-down mandates. For export-import firms, especially those operating in developing economies, this governance model encourages: Partnering with local stakeholders on environmental and social policies. Ensuring board diversity includes voices with on-the-ground operational or social insight. Establishing ethical trade committees that go beyond legal compliance into moral accountability. A good example comes from Unilever, which embedded sustainability goals directly into board oversight mechanisms, giving ESG performance equal weight to traditional financial KPIs. This approach reflects not just smart governance but the moral sensibility that Leo XIII envisioned—a business accountable not only to shareholders but to society at large. Social Justice in Supply Chains: From Ethics to Action One of Pope Leo’s most striking contributions was his insistence on a “living wage”—a concept that remains radical in many parts of the world. Today, the globalised supply chain continues to struggle with this legacy. From textile factories in Bangladesh to cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, millions of workers form the backbone of export-import networks, yet live on precarious wages with minimal protections. ESG reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) now require disclosure of workforce conditions, safety, gender pay gaps, and forced labour risk. These aren’t just regulatory pressures—they're extensions of the same ethical imperative Leo XIII articulated: the dignity of work and the rights of workers. For global firms, this means: Auditing suppliers for not only compliance but dignity—ensuring workers have safe conditions, fair pay, and voice mechanisms. Moving from reactive CSR donations to proactive value-chain transformation. Embracing long-term contracts with suppliers that reward ethical practices over lowest-cost bids. Apple, for instance, began publishing annual supply chain responsibility reports in the 2010s, and while not perfect, the move to public accountability mirrors the moral transparency that Pope Leo would consider essential in any economic structure. ESG Reporting: The Shift From Optics to Substance Pope Leo XIII warned against philanthropy as a substitute for justice. Today, businesses are often accused of “greenwashing” or “social-washing”—presenting ESG initiatives as branding exercises rather than embedded values. This is where his legacy offers a potent corrective. True ESG alignment demands that social impact is not confined to a side office in marketing, but woven into procurement strategies, capital allocation, and product development. To do this effectively, companies must move beyond disclosure to deliberation: What ethical lens do we use when selecting markets or partners? How are decisions about automation, relocation, or workforce reduction made—and who benefits? Does our ESG data reflect lived realities, or merely pass the materiality test? The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), set to impact over 50,000 companies by 2026, moves toward this deeper integration by requiring not just narrative sustainability reports, but auditable, standardised ESG data. Firms that fail to build internal ESG data systems now will face reputational and regulatory penalties soon. Investor Sentiment and Catholic Social Ethics Interestingly, investor behaviour is also converging with Leo XIII’s ethics. Impact investing, faith-based investing, and ESG screening are no longer niche. According to the Global Sustainable Investment Review, global sustainable investment reached $35.3 trillion in 2020, accounting for more than a third of total assets under management. Faith-aligned investment groups, including Catholic institutions managing multi-billion-dollar endowments, increasingly exclude companies that violate labour rights, degrade ecosystems, or operate in high-conflict zones. Pope Leo’s social vision now directly influences capital flows. Export-import players hoping to attract institutional investors must demonstrate more than quarterly earnings—they must articulate how their operations align with justice, stewardship, and human dignity. These are not soft values; they are becoming capital differentiators. The Strategic Advantage of Moral Clarity It’s tempting to see ESG as a chore, an imposition from regulators and activist investors. But Leo XIII saw something deeper: that systems built without moral clarity eventually become unstable. Whether it’s collapsing supply chains during a pandemic, extreme weather disrupting logistics, or social unrest in response to inequality, businesses today are paying the price for ignoring the societal context in which they operate. For those in export-import—where interdependence, visibility, and velocity define competitive advantage—moral clarity is not just a compass. It’s a risk management tool. Embracing the social justice principles articulated by Pope Leo XIII is not about religious observance. It’s about recognising that every contract, every shipment, and every business decision takes place in a moral landscape. Companies that map that terrain wisely will build trust, attract capital, and sustain value in a turbulent century. Final Thought: The Long View Matters Pope Leo XIII understood that economic systems shape souls, not just markets. As ESG matures from a trend to a global standard, his insistence on dignity, justice, and moral economy becomes increasingly relevant. Businesses that embrace this long view—treating social responsibility as governance, not charity—will not only report better metrics. They’ll build more enduring, ethical, and ultimately profitable operations. Join Hi-Fella Today! As Pope Leo’s enduring emphasis on social justice gains renewed relevance in today’s ESG-driven business landscape, export-import companies must rise to the challenge of aligning profit with purpose. Hi-Fella supports this shift by connecting you with ethically aligned partners, offering transparency tools to enhance ESG reporting, and enabling responsible sourcing across global markets. Whether you're aiming to meet new governance standards or build a supply chain that reflects your values, Hi-Fella empowers you to trade responsibly while staying competitive in a world where ethics and economics go hand in hand.
Pope Leo’s Emphasis on Social Justice: Implications for Corporate Governance and ESG Reporting
Pope Leo XIII might not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking about supply chains, board...
Read More
UK Wildfires Highlight Climate Risks: What Businesses Should Consider
UK Wildfires Highlight Climate Risks: What Businesses Should Consider
Wildfires in the United Kingdom were once a statistical rarity, relegated to the heathlands and moorlands...
Philippines 2025 Elections: Implications for Foreign Investors and Trade Policies
Philippines 2025 Elections: Implications for Foreign Investors and Trade Policies
In May 2025, the Philippines will hold its midterm elections—a political event that may not grab global...