Suppliers provide much more than just innovative design, electronics assembly, and/or product components: their reliability and quality control processes are key to maintaining high manufacturing standards. End users of Cloud Solar or Smart Biogas typically belong to low-income groups and reside in hard-to-reach areas; their subsistence and/or commercial activities rely on product robustness and longevity.
Recently, we ventured into outsourcing part of our manufacturing in Kenya as part of a strategic decision to consolidate our presence in the market, be closer to local customers, and improve our ability to refine the product in light of local conditions and requirements. Our choice was not only guided by reputation and conformity to international standards, but also based on the supplier’s working conditions for its staff and its overall contribution to the local economy.
“Over the years we've created a culture of openness and collaboration and exposed newly trained engineers and entrepreneurs to global opportunities.”
Latiff, Gearbox CEO & founder
We eventually settled on Lectrotel Mycrosystems / Gearbox as an experienced manufacturer whose growth trajectory over the past decade has not compromised on socioeconomic impact.
Part of this impact is direct: from the increasing number of employees to their remuneration and working conditions, our chosen supplier has been showing intentionality to provide high quality jobs and growth prospects for its staff. This reflects in personnel continuity and accountability. Charles as Gearbox’s Quality Assurance Engineer started as an intern but was then promoted to taking responsibility for the entire manufacturing process. His colleagues, including women engineers, have similarly experienced personal and professional growth within the company.
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The impact, however, is also and most importantly on the local economy – with the company contributing to the creation of an ecosystem of suppliers and local businesses less reliant on global supply chains and therefore less exposed to unexpected developments in foreign exchange and other risks. In East Africa, the expansion of a local ecosystem for electronics manufacturing makes products better suited to the African market, available at a shorter notice, as well as easier to repair and maintain.
Lectrotel Mycrosystems / Gearbox inspired us with their vision for more accessible electrical components, locally and responsibly made at fair working conditions, and with their dedication to the goal of building an inclusive and vibrant local electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Over the years they have designed equipment and methods tailored not only to companies like ours, but also to small-scale local businesses with difficult access to international markets. Through this partnership, Inclusive Energy contributes to quality job creation and to an expanding indigenous electronics sector, thereby playing its part in the local East African economy.