Inspection & Verification
Factory & Vendor Audits
Know what a supplier can actually deliver before you commit the order.
Why organisations certify
Key benefits of Factory & Vendor Audits
What certification actually returns, stated specifically rather than generically.
Credibility
An on-site audit report is evidence of supplier capability, unlike a self-assessment questionnaire the supplier completed about itself.
Market Access
Retail and brand customers increasingly require documented supplier audits as a condition of their own supply chain compliance.
Risk Reduction
Capability, capacity and compliance gaps are identified before the order is placed, not after a delivery has failed.
Operational Efficiency
Audits surface the process controls that determine consistency, allowing you to target supplier development where it changes outcomes.
Customer Trust
Customers auditing your supply chain want to see that you audit yours; a documented programme answers that directly.
Regulatory Compliance
Supports supply chain due diligence expectations under customer codes of conduct and emerging responsible-sourcing regulation.
How it works
Our process for Factory & Vendor Audits
Every stage has a defined purpose, a realistic duration and a stated output.
- 01
Scope & Criteria
1–2 days
We agree exactly what is being inspected, against which specification, standard, drawing or contractual requirement.
- 02
Inspection Plan
2–3 days
Sampling levels, hold points, test witnessing and reporting format are fixed in writing before anyone travels.
- 03
On-Site Inspection
Assignment dependent
Our inspector attends the site, verifies conformity, witnesses tests, photographs evidence and records deviations as they are found.
- 04
Report & Release
24–72 hours
A dated report with photographic evidence and a clear conformity statement is issued, supporting your release, rejection or corrective-action decision.
Preparation
Documents required
What we will ask to see. Having these ready before Stage 1 is the single biggest factor in a certification that runs to schedule.
- Supplier profile, registration and statutory licences
- Organisation chart and shift-wise manpower details
- Machinery and production capacity details
- Quality control procedures and inspection records
- Calibration status of measuring and test equipment
- Existing management system certificates, if held
- Customer complaint and corrective action records
- Labour records: wages, hours, age verification, statutory registers
- Health, safety and environmental compliance evidence
Not sure whether your scope is right?
Scope is the single thing most often got wrong, and it appears verbatim on your certificate. We will review yours before you apply, at no charge — it costs us less than fixing it at recertification.
Talk to a specialistOften certified together
Related standards
Standards sharing the High Level Structure can be operated as one integrated system and audited together, which reduces total audit days.
Third-Party Inspection Services
Independent verification of materials, fabrication and finished goods against specification before dispatch.
Learn moreSupply Chain Audits
Multi-tier supply chain assessment covering traceability, continuity risk, compliance and responsible sourcing.
Learn moreQuality Management System
Certify a quality management system that delivers consistent products and services and satisfies customers.
Learn moreCommon questions
Factory & Vendor Audits — frequently asked questions
Direct answers, including where the honest answer is inconvenient for us.
A certification audit assesses conformity to a published standard and results in a certificate. A factory audit assesses capability against your requirements and results in a report and score for your commercial decision. The audit criteria are set by you, not by ISO.
Yes, where your contract with the supplier permits it. Unannounced and semi-announced audits are common in social compliance and food safety, precisely because they observe normal operating conditions rather than a prepared presentation.
Yes, through our international auditor network. Lead time and cost vary with location; we confirm both during scoping.
Question not answered here? Ask a certification specialist — we answer technical questions without requiring an enquiry first.
Talk to us
Talk to a certification expert
Tell us your scope and headcount and we will send a fixed quotation for Factory & Vendor Audits with the audit-day calculation shown.
- Quotation within 2–3 working days
- IAF MD 5 audit-day calculation included
- Full three-year cycle cost, not just the first audit
- Your details are used only to answer this enquiry
Next step
Ready to certify to Factory & Vendor Audits?
We will scope it honestly, show you the calculation behind the price, and tell you plainly if the timeline you need is not achievable.