Types of factory audit
| Type | Question it answers |
|---|---|
| Capability or technical audit | Can this factory make my product, at my volume, to my standard? |
| Quality system audit | Does it check incoming materials, work in progress and finished goods, and keep records? |
| Social compliance audit | Are wages, hours, age checks and health and safety acceptable? Schemes such as SMETA and amfori BSCI use approved audit firms. |
| Environmental audit | How are waste, effluent and chemicals handled, and are permits in place? |
Worked example: a brassware supplier
An importer plans a first order of brass planters from a supplier in Moradabad. The audit confirms the GST and Importer Exporter Code registrations and that the address matches. Walking the floor, the auditor finds casting and polishing in house but no plating line, although the quote includes antique-brass plating. The factory names a nearby plating unit. The importer now knows to ask for that unit's details, include plating in the checklist, and plan a during-production inspection after plating rather than relying on the final check.
How Clear To Load audits factories
Our factory audit is a scored capability and quality audit in eight sections, covering process, capacity, quality control and subcontracting among others, with basic social-compliance observations and photographs. It is not a SMETA or amfori BSCI audit; if your retailer needs one, the factory must use an approved firm, and we can tell you which scheme applies. The audit costs US$449 per audit day plus travel by band (see pricing). Gaps found become a corrective action plan for the factory. See factory audits in India and the factory audit checklist.