Let's discuss factory audit selection, covering the ins and outs of different audits and how to select the best one for your needs. You'll learn about initial factory evaluations, quality system audits, social compliance audits, and … [Read more...]
Social Audits: 4 Reasons Why Testing, Inspection, & Certification Firms Should NOT Do Them
Over the past 15 years, I have been shocked by the large-scale malpractice that social compliance audits represent. I wrote about it in several articles: Social compliance audits in factories: perverse effects Social Compliance … [Read more...]
The ISO Certification Industry’s Dark Side
The ISO certification industry, unfortunately, has a dark side. A large proportion of purchasers ask about certifications in the sourcing process. If a potential supplier sends an ISO 9001 certificate, it's one box ticked. Also an ISO … [Read more...]
Is there a Relationship between Factory Audits and Better Quality Products? [Real Data Analysis]
![Is there a Relationship between Factory Audits and Better Quality Products? [Real Data Analysis]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IsthereaRelationshipbetweenFactoryAuditsandBetterQualityProductsRealDataAnalysis.jpeg)
Prof. Neale O’Connor, a China business and accounting expert and international keynote speaker, recently analyzed some of our own factory audit data and other third-party data about customer complaints and came up with some really … [Read more...]
7 Reasons Why Ignoring Factory Audits Will Hurt Your Business
If you start working with a new supplier that you haven't visited or audited on-site, do you feel safe about your decision? I have talked to many people in that situation, and they usually haven't fully realized what they might be … [Read more...]
Remote Audit Of A Factory’s Quality System: It Can Work!
Performing a remote audit (conducted without actually going to the factory) is nothing new. And a lot of companies have started using them because of the covid-19 pandemic. In 2013, The ASQ Quality Press published eAuditing - Virtual … [Read more...]
Using Factory Audits To Qualify Your Chinese Suppliers
When I talk to someone who is contemplating whether they should work with a particular supplier, I advise them to visit the factory and/or have it audited. And this can lead to confusion, as the next question is usually "what type of … [Read more...]
All You Should Know About Management System Standards & Auditing Them [Podcast]
![All You Should Know About Management System Standards & Auditing Them [Podcast]](https://qualityinspection.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AllYouShouldKnowAboutManagementSystemStandardsAuditingThemPodcast.jpg)
What are management system standards? Management system standards aren't 'just another tool.' When an organization is certified to one of these standards it's an important way to demonstrate that they're able to perform the tasks required … [Read more...]
Coping With Coronavirus: How Importers Can Check If A China Factory Is Ready & Has Capacity
Importers are being hit severely by the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia epidemic in China: Many factory workers (operators, inspectors, engineers...) are locked down in Hubei province Perhaps a higher number of factory workers are … [Read more...]
Continuous Auditing to Keep Pressure on a China Factory: How it Works
One of the questions our clients ask most often is "how to keep the pressure on our supplier's factory so they improve and they don't make the same mistakes again". Continuous auditing is an answer to this, but how does it work? … [Read more...]