Guide
A factory audit checks on site that a supplier really makes your type of product and controls its quality. A useful audit covers ten areas: legal identity, site and equipment, what is subcontracted, capacity, quality organisation, incoming material, in-process and final inspection, measuring equipment, storage and traceability, and experience. Below is the checklist we use, with the evidence recorded for each area.
A supplier check is done from records: registration, business scope, court records and the bank account. A factory audit is done on site and shows what the records cannot: the machines, the people and how quality is controlled. Start with a records check of your candidates, then audit the one or two you shortlist.
An auditor spends about a day on site. The ten areas below are the ones we cover; each ends with evidence that goes into the report.
| Area | What the auditor checks | Evidence recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Legal identity | The business licence matches the company on the quote and on the bank account; the registered address matches the site; the business scope includes production | Photo of the licence on site, gate and signage |
| 2. Site and equipment | Production lines for your product; type, number, age and condition of the machines; maintenance | Photos of each workshop, equipment list |
| 3. In-house or subcontracted | Which key processes are done on site (moulding, machining, welding, plating, painting, assembly) and which are sent out, and to whom | List of processes and subcontractors |
| 4. Capacity | Shifts, number of workers, current order load; whether the lead time quoted matches the machines and the people | Production schedule, headcount |
| 5. Quality organisation | Written procedures; quality staff and whether they report to production; ISO 9001 certificate checked on the certification body's website | Certificate, organisation chart |
| 6. Incoming material | How raw material and components are checked; approved supplier list; material certificates; quarantine of rejected material | Incoming inspection records |
| 7. In-process and final inspection | First-article check, patrol inspection, final inspection before packing; marking and handling of nonconforming parts; rework | Inspection sheets, photos of the reject area |
| 8. Measuring equipment | Instruments available for your critical characteristics; calibration labels and records | Calibration certificates |
| 9. Storage, packing and traceability | Batch marking, warehouse conditions, rust and damage prevention, packing area | Photos |
| 10. Experience and basic safety | Similar products made and markets served; how complaints are handled; fire exits, extinguishers, protective equipment | Notes and photos |
We adapt the checklist to your product (for example aluminium windows and doors in Foshan) and send a written report with photos for each area. A factory audit costs $360 per audit. For a new client, we check the records of up to three candidate suppliers free of charge, then audit the one you shortlist (supplier verification).
Tell us what you need. We typically reply within one business day.
