Quality Control Audit, china factory evaluation, china supplier audit ,chinese factory audit,quality control audit checklist

What is Supplier Quality System Audit?

Supplier Quality System Audit should be performed before the buyer places an order to a new vendor. The audit is as per international standard ISO 9001 and will take two days at the manufacturer's premises.

Depending on the results, our auditors will prepare a corrective action plan and arrange a corrective actions follow-up audit to ensure the nonconformity has been modified.

Supplier Quality System Audit is performed by ISO 9001 certified auditors and follows the ISO 9001 standard and abides by the criteria of their norms. In addition, there are a few checkpoints that regard environmental and social conditions at the factory. With this factory audit, you will be fully aware of the status of your business partner. If it's the first time you are working with a factory and/or you wish to build a long-term partnership, we recommend a factory audit. When importing from China it is important to know exactly whom you are dealing with: a vendor, a factory, or even a middleman.

What do we check during a detailed factory audit?

Detail factory audit is based on the international standard with a few additional checkpoints to give you comprehensive information about a supplier. A certified and experienced auditor assesses how far a supplier's factory complies with the standards set for ISO 9001 audits. These checks include the full profile of your potential vendor/factory/manufacturer:

1) Factory Profile: contact details, licenses check, business name, address, founding date, ownership, registered capital, organization chart, etc.

2) Facilities and Manufacturing Processes: office, production areas, production lines, machines and equipment, processes

3) Employees and Workforce: count of management, R&D staff, QC, workers

4) Clients and Experience: main markets, trade history, featured customers, samples

5) Documents Verification: licenses, certificates, etc.

6) Management System

7) Design Control

8) Purchasing Control

9) Storage Management

10) Incoming Inspection

11) Production Control

12) Final Internal Product Inspection & Testing

13) Control of Measuring & Testing Equipment

14) Resource Management

15) Continual Improvement

16) Social Environment Responsibility 

17) Production capacities: daily and monthly output

18) Sample checking: Quick check of samples similar to the desired product

19) Quality system: a comprehensive investigation of factory’s quality system

What is the purpose and benefit of a detailed factory audit?

1) Avoid scams and inexperienced vendors, ensure suppliers’ reliability

2) Compare potential vendors and select viable source

3) Check the needed certificates and licenses for the specific factories

4) Check the factory's experience in manufacturing your product(s)

5) Get the full view of the factory structure, organization, quality process, and experience 

6) Protect your reputation and verify your suppliers meet all applicable regulations (including labor rights)

Minimize risks at an early stage

7) Save time and money by preventing problems rather than curing them

8) Monitor your supplier's quality management system over time

Corrective Action Plan for Detail Factory Audit (ISO 9001)

After a detailed factory audit, you may request your supplier to make improvements on the non-conformity found during the initial audit. The corrective action plan following the extensive factory audit is a list documenting all non-conformity. It is a guide for improvements that helps the supplier to propose and implement precise and detailed corrective actions.

Follow-up audit for Detail Factory Audit (ISO 9001)

The Corrective actions follow-up audit focuses on checking that the related corrective and preventive actions are effective. It ensures the non-conformity identified in the extensive factory audit is now confirmed.

Supplier Quality System Audit is looking deeper into the factory’s conditions, capabilities, and full quality control system. It is more detailed and comprehensive and is recommended for most cases, especially when you are placing a valuable order or planning for a long-term business relationship.

Detail Factory Audit is part of an effective quality assurance program to minimize risks and improve supply chain performance. Also referred to as a Manufacturing Audit, factory audit, or supplier technical audit, an extensive factory audit is frequently used to evaluate potential new suppliers in China & Asia and monitor regular suppliers. It vets your vendor’s capability to fulfill your orders in the desired quantity, meet your quality objectives, and comply with time frames. 

Our auditors conduct an on-site evaluation of a factory based on International Standard, ISO 9001, and other checkpoints critical to understanding and qualifying your supplier. 

Each manufacturing audit is unique, combining the manufacturing audit checklist with your specific requirements. Auditors can also provide you with a detailed technical audit corrective action plan to assist with the smooth implementation of any necessary improvements.