What a factory audit is really looking for
A factory audit answers one question: can this supplier reliably make your products to the required quality, at the required capacity, in a compliant way? It looks at the factory as a system — not at one batch of goods.
The audit checklist
- Company profile and legality — business licence, export qualifications, key contacts and organisation;
- Production capability — machinery, capacity, maintenance records, and whether equipment matches the products they claim to make;
- Quality system — documented procedures, incoming material control, in-process inspection, final inspection, testing equipment and calibration;
- Workforce and training — skill levels, training records, shift arrangements and QC staff ratio;
- Supplier management — how raw materials and components are qualified and inspected;
- Housekeeping and discipline — 5S, workflow, material segregation, and overall factory discipline;
- Compliance — labour, working hours, health & safety, environmental permits and fire safety.
Audit outputs
A good audit report grades each area, lists findings with evidence, and concludes with a clear recommendation — approve, conditional or not approved. Many buyers use audits to qualify new suppliers and to schedule improvement follow-ups for existing ones.
QCANT performs independent factory audits across China, from ISO 9000 system audits to full capability and social compliance assessments.
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QCANT — Independent quality inspection & auditing in China. Contact us: cs@QCANT.com.