Terms of Use.

1. What these terms cover

These terms govern your use of this website and the free tools on it. They do not govern paid work — that is covered by a separate written agreement signed by both sides before anything begins. If the two ever conflict, the signed agreement wins.

2. The free tools are estimates, not advice

The supply chain diagnostic, the supplier concentration (HHI) scorer, the cost estimator, and the published methodology pages are provided so you can form your own view. They run standard, published models on numbers you type in. They are:

• Not a professional opinion on your specific situation;
• Not legal, customs, tax, accounting or investment advice;
• Not a substitute for a licensed advisor where one is required.

Tariff and duty classification in particular is a legal determination. Nothing on this site is a customs ruling, and you should confirm any classification with a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before you act on it.

3. Figures, ranges and case studies

Performance figures on this site describe programmes led by the principal over a 17-year operating career. Cost ranges (for example the 18–53% arc) are illustrative of past outcomes and are not a forecast or a guarantee of what any engagement will deliver for you.

Case studies marked as composite or illustrative are exactly that — constructed to show the method, not accounts of a specific client engagement. They are labelled where they appear and should not be read as client references.

4. Published prices

Prices shown are starting points for typical scopes. They are an invitation to discuss, not a binding offer. The binding number is the one in a written quote, and that quote governs.

5. Third-party names

Company, publication and standards-body names on this site (including former employers, news outlets and standards such as SCOR, APQP/PPAP, ISO and Incoterms) are the property of their respective owners. They appear to describe experience, cite sources, or name a methodology. Their appearance does not imply any endorsement, sponsorship, partnership, or client relationship, and none should be inferred. Former employers are identified as roles held, not as clients of this practice.

6. Syndicated news

The live signals feed shows headlines, short summaries, publication times and links from public RSS feeds. Copyright in that material remains with the publisher. We reproduce only what the feed provides and link back to the source; we do not host or republish article text.

7. Our content

The writing, design, tools and code on this site are ours. You are welcome to read it, quote it with attribution, and apply the published methods to your own business — that is the point of publishing them. Please do not copy the site wholesale or republish it as your own.

8. Availability

This is a small practice. The site may be unavailable for maintenance, the news feed depends on third-party sources that occasionally fail, and we make no uptime promise.

9. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss arising from your use of this website or the free tools on it, and any direct liability arising from the website is limited to the amount you paid to access it — which is nothing. This does not limit liability that cannot lawfully be limited, and it does not apply to paid engagements, which are governed by their own agreement.

10. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, United States, without regard to conflict-of-law rules.

11. Contact

Questions about these terms: smalakarmail@gmail.com.