Pre-Audit Prep
- Confirm legal entity and match to business license.
- Share your product spec and expected capacity so the auditor knows what to inspect.
- Prepare checklists by process: materials, machining/assembly, packaging, outbound QA.
- Align on photo/video evidence requirements if remote.
Operations Walkthrough
During the tour, document:
- Production flow from inbound materials to outbound pallets
- Equipment list and maintenance logs
- Work-in-progress control and line balancing
- Warehouse conditions: humidity, stacking, FIFO use
- Sample room: recent customer samples and golden samples
Quality System Checks
- Verify incoming inspection records and reject handling.
- Review in-process QA frequency and sampling plans.
- Confirm AQL level for pre-shipment inspection and who pays for rework.
- Check traceability: lot codes, label control, retention samples.
- Validate testing equipment calibration dates.
Compliance & Social
Check for required certifications (ISO9001, ISO14001, product-specific marks) and ensure MSDS / RoHS/REACH documentation matches your SKU. Review fire safety, PPE availability, and worker conditions. If you sell to EU/US, confirm experience with CE/FCC/FDA where applicable.
Reporting & Next Steps
Score findings by severity (Critical/Major/Minor). Share a CAPA plan with deadlines and owners. Only move to PO when critical items are closed and golden samples are approved. Keep the audit on file for annual refresh or when changing lines.