Pro QC has over 40 years experience in quality control and quality assurance across virtually every industry.
Factory and supplier audits are systematic evaluations conducted to assess manufacturers’ or suppliers’ quality management systems, operational capabilities, and compliance levels.
Pro QC offers tailored factory and supplier audit services in over 100 countries, backed by more than 40 years of expertise. As a trusted partner, Pro QC supports businesses that need to:
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We conduct global factory compliance audits to help you qualify factories or suppliers
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Explore our range of quality control audit offerings and capabilities by clicking on the relevant area of quality compliance challenge required.
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ESG Audit Services
Social Audit Services in India
Factory & Supplier Audits in China
ESG, Ethical & Social Compliance Audits in China
QHSE Audits
Supplier Quality Audit Program
Supplier Verification Audits
ISO 13485 Audit Services
ISO 9001 Quality Management System Audits
Quality Management System Audits
IATF 16949 Audit Services
AS9100 Audit Services
ISO 14001 Audit Services
ISO 22716 Audit Services
ISO 45001 Audit Services
Manufacturing Process Audits
VDA 6.3 Process Audit
MDSAP Audit Services
VDA 6.3 Potential Analysis Audits
PPAP Audit Services
Social and Ethical Compliance Audits
SA8000 Audit Services
Environmental Compliance Audits
Supply Chain Security Compliance Program
C-TPAT Audit
Factory audits are critical for businesses seeking to mitigate supply chain risks, ensure consistent product quality, and maintain compliance with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations.
The primary goal of factory and supplier audits is to help clients verify their suppliers’ capability, reliability, and suitability. These audits thoroughly evaluate the supplier’s infrastructure, processes, workforce competency, and adherence to quality and compliance standards. They serve as valuable tools for identifying potential risks, such as production inefficiencies or non-compliance with industry regulations, allowing businesses to proactively address issues before they affect the supply chain.
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At Pro QC International, we provide a comprehensive range of factory and supplier audit services, each designed to meet the specific needs of our clients and the industry sectors they operate within. These audits ensure that suppliers and manufacturers adhere to the highest quality, compliance, and efficiency standards. Below are the key types of factory audit services we offer:
1. Supplier Verification Audit
A supplier verification audit aims to validate a new or existing supplier’s reliability, capability, and compliance. This type of audit ensures that the supplier meets your organization’s requirements in terms of production capacity, quality standards, and ethical practices. Pro QC’s auditors thoroughly assess financial stability, operational capabilities, and quality assurance practices. This audit provides critical insights for risk management and helps ensure that suppliers can consistently deliver on quality, timelines, and compliance.
2. Quality Management System (QMS) Audit
The QMS audit evaluates a supplier’s adherence to globally recognized quality management standards, such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485 and AS9100. This audit scrutinizes every aspect of the supplier’s quality management processes, including documentation, process controls, and corrective action protocols. Pro QC’s auditors assess the effectiveness of these systems in ensuring consistent production quality and identify any potential gaps that could affect the final product. This audit is essential for companies aligning their organization with international quality benchmarks.
3. Manufacturing Process Audit
A process audit focuses on a supplier’s manufacturing procedures. It examines the production workflow, machinery, calibration, and process controls to verify that each step in the production cycle is well-defined and capable of producing consistent, defect-free outputs. Pro QC’s process audit identifies inefficiencies, potential bottlenecks, and non-conformities in the manufacturing process, providing actionable insights for optimization.
4. Social Compliance Audit
This audit ensures suppliers meet social responsibility standards, focusing on labor practices, workplace safety, fair wages, and environmental impact. It is particularly crucial for companies that need to demonstrate compliance with ESG guidelines or specific regulatory requirements like the SA8000 standard. Our audits help mitigate reputational risk by ensuring our clients uphold ethical practices and comply with local and international labor laws.
5. Environmental Audit
As sustainability becomes a critical component of global supply chains, our environmental audits provide an in-depth assessment of an organization’s environmental impact, including waste management, energy efficiency, and compliance with regulations like ISO 14001. These audits help businesses align their organizations and suppliers with environmental sustainability goals, reducing the risk of non-compliance with environmental laws and promoting eco-friendly practices throughout the supply chain.
6. Health and Safety Audit
Health and safety audits ensure that a factory’s operations meet workplace safety standards and regulatory health requirements. This audit assesses the current safety measures, such as employee training, emergency procedures, equipment safety, and working conditions, to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries. Pro QC’s auditors also verify compliance with standards like ISO 45001, helping our clients maintain a safe work environment while protecting their employees.
7. Security and Anti-Terrorism Audit
In certain industries, particularly those with sensitive or high-risk products, security audits are necessary to ensure that a supplier’s facilities comply with security protocols and anti-terrorism measures, such as C-TPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism). Our security audits verify that physical and procedural safeguards are in place to protect against unauthorized access, tampering, and other security threats.
Factory and Supplier audits are a strategic tool that can be employed at various stages in the supplier relationship, providing insight and control over the supply chain. Pro QC’s audits apply to the following situations:
When selecting a new supplier, conducting a factory audit before entering into a contract is a critical step in mitigating potential risks. These audits assess the supplier’s capabilities, production capacity, and quality control systems, providing a clear understanding of whether the supplier can meet your specific requirements. Pre-contractual audits are especially important when entering into long-term agreements or when production will occur in regions with less stringent regulatory oversight.
Periodic factory audits allow businesses to continuously monitor supplier performance, ensuring they maintain high levels of quality and compliance throughout the relationship. These audits can be scheduled at regular intervals, such as annually or semi-annually, to ensure the supplier’s processes remain aligned with your evolving needs and industry standards. This is particularly important in industries where compliance standards are frequently updated.
Factory audits can also be employed in response to specific concerns or events, such as a sudden increase in product defects, compliance violations, or supply chain disruptions. In such cases, a targeted audit can help identify the root cause of the issue and provide recommendations for corrective action. This ensures swift resolution of problems before they affect the overall supply chain.
At Pro QC International, our auditors possess extensive expertise, ensuring that each factory audit is conducted with the highest precision, technical acumen, and industry knowledge. All our auditors are certified in relevant international standards and have substantial experience auditing manufacturers across various sectors.
Our auditors hold internationally recognized certifications, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 13485, IATF 16949 and SA8000 certifications. These credentials demonstrate their comprehensive understanding of quality management, environmental standards, and process audits.
Pro QC auditors specialize in various industries, including automotive, medical devices, electronics, aerospace, textiles, and more. This sector-specific knowledge allows them to tailor audits to the unique requirements of each industry, ensuring that clients receive accurate and actionable insights.
Our auditors operate in 100 countries including all the key manufacturing hubs worldwide, combining local market knowledge with global standards. This enables us to conduct audits in accordance with local regulations and client-specific needs while maintaining adherence to international best practices.
A factory audit, conducted by a third party like Pro QC International, provides an independent assessment of a supplier’s operations, systems, and capabilities. This ensures the supplier can meet quality, operational, and regulatory requirements, with a structured process focusing on key performance areas.
The audit starts with defining objectives based on the client’s needs, whether quality management, process capabilities, or compliance. An audit checklist is developed using standards like ISO 9001 or client-specific requirements. Pro QC coordinates scheduling with the supplier, ensuring that auditors with the right expertise are assigned.
The audit begins with an opening meeting with the supplier’s management team to set expectations. The auditors review documentation (e.g., quality manuals, and compliance certificates), inspect the facility, assess production processes, and evaluate workforce qualifications. They also verify compliance with relevant standards (e.g., ISO, VDA) and identify non-conformities. A closing meeting is held to present preliminary findings.
Pro QC provides a comprehensive audit report with detailed findings, non-conformities, and recommendations for improvement. The report includes an overall supplier evaluation score and may include a corrective action plan (CAP) if needed.
If significant non-conformities are found, a follow-up audit may be conducted to verify corrective actions. Pro QC also offers ongoing monitoring to ensure continuous supplier compliance and development, helping maintain supply chain resilience.
Choosing Pro QC for factory and supplier audits offers numerous advantages:
Stability and Expertise: Founded in 1984, Pro QC is a trustworthy and dependable quality partner with over 40 years of experience. Expert-Led Solutions: Technical expert advice from first contact ensures reliable solutions are executed with precision. Qualified Resources: Resource transparency and the right qualifications safeguard your interests on every project at every supplier. Single Contact Point: A single contact point for quality services globally simplifies your supply chain. Stringent Technical Oversight: Meticulous technical preparation, guidance throughout the engagement, and report review by senior engineers. Advanced Quality Analysis: Industry-leading quality dashboard, analytics, and supplier performance analysis tools and framework. Global Aligned Operations: Operational processes are optimized and aligned for a seamless cross-regional experience.
Get in touch with us using the contact form below or visit our sample report page. Our team would be happy to provide a relevant sample report by industry or global audit standard (e.g. ISO 9001).
We will be happy to give you more information about our quality solutions. Please fill in this form to contact us. We will respond as soon as possible. If you would like to submit your CV, please click here.
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In which country are you based?AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCôte d'IvoireCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongo (Congo-Brazzaville)Costa RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzechia (Czech Republic)Democratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine StatePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabwe
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Pro QC has been providing quality assurance, engineering and consulting services since 1984.
We offer quality solutions in over 88 countries and we are continuously expanding our network.
We offer online reporting and detailed reports within 24 hours of job completion.
Our global engineering team has the requisite industry expertise to verify quality and conformance.
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