What is the purpose of a factory audit?
A factory audit is an evaluation of a factory that takes place on the premises. The purpose of a factory audit is to determine whether or not a manufacturer is capable of producing a specific order in accordance with your specifications.
As a result, a factory audit is usually limited to a single product (category) to ensure consistency. Example: If you want to manufacture e-bikes and you discover a manufacturer that makes both electric skateboards and electric bikes, you may be interested in partnering with them. When the manufacturer's capability and capacity to produce your specific order of e-bikes are assessed, the auditor will concentrate on that aspect of the evaluation.
It is necessary to travel to the factory in order to conduct a factory audit (the auditor could be you, a colleague, or a third-party professional auditor). Upon arrival, the auditor will gather information about the factory and work through a checklist of items that the factory is required to comply with before concluding the audit.
Most of the time, this checklist is created in accordance with international standards and requirements established by you, the client. At the conclusion of the factory audit, all findings are documented in a report that provides a detailed overview of the manufacturer's capacity and capabilities.
Different industries may have different requirements for their facilities. As an example, if you are purchasing medical equipment, you must make certain that the manufacturer adheres to all applicable rules and regulations. However, for clothing companies, it has become increasingly important that the working conditions within a factory are ethical. There are several types of factory audits available to meet these requirements, each with a specific focus area.
Technical Quality Assurance (TQA)
In-depth evaluation of the factory's quality system, management techniques, equipment maintenance, and document control is provided by a Technical Quality Audit (also known as a Quality System Audit) or Quality System Audit. It is possible to apply different standards (checklists) depending on the specific industry or product. For example, AS9001 is used in the aerospace industry and ISO13485 is used in the medical equipment industry.
It goes without saying that ISO9001 is the most widely used standard for evaluating a Chinese manufacturer's Quality Management System. By comparing your manufacturer's strengths and weaknesses to this standard, you can determine the manufacturer's overall strengths and weaknesses. Above all, it provides you with a clear picture of the manufacturers' ability to complete your order on time, with high quality, and at a reasonable price.
Social Compliance Audits are performed on a regular basis.
A Social Compliance Audit (also known as an Ethical Audit) is a type of audit that looks into a factory's compliance with social, environmental, and legal regulations. The SA8000 standard is a widely used standard for auditing against. By comparing a factory's working conditions to this standard, you can determine whether the factory's working conditions are ethical and in compliance with local law. This is absolutely necessary in order to protect the reputation of your company.
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