Factory Audit

Factory Audit

What is a Quality Audit?

A quality audit is a program designed to assess the existing quality systems of your factory and supplier/s.

An audit of your supplier and their facility will determine whether or not they can produce your products according to certain directives and requirements.

As auditing is one of the key steps in the sourcing process, it will be important to ensure that new or existing manufacturers/suppliers can deliver quality products, undertake continuous improvements and operate efficiently in compliance with social and environmental standards.

By providing a means to examine a factory’s structure, organization, quality process and experience, the audit enables you to compare potential suppliers and select the best possible one for your production needs.

A quality audit allows you to: 

  • identify potential risks there may be in working with a particular supplier 
  • manage this risk through a thorough assessment procedure and offering improvement strategies
  • evaluate a supplier’s capability and performance 
  • protect your brand’s image as you don’t want to be aligning yourself with the wrong supplier 
  • maintain compliance and adhere to specific requirements 
  • ensure better quality products that meet your standards 
Read more: A Factory Quality Audit Checklist To Ease Supplier Selection

3 Types of Quality Audits For Your Household Goods Brand

Household goods brands should understand that there are three main quality audits that are used to assess your supplier’s factory and existing quality systems.

That being said, your supplier may not need all three audits done to produce high-quality products and meet the levels of regulation and conformance that your brand requires.

Let’s explore what the quality audits are and what each offers your brand in return: