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...]
How To Prepare For A Factory Audit?
From time to time, someone asks me for advice on how to prepare for a factory audit. Since we have run an auditing service for years, we have a few ideas about this. I collected some of my usual advice in this article*. *(I am assuming … [Read more...]
Social Compliance Audits: Fear, Lies, and Corruption
Over the weekend, I came upon a webinar that gives a relatively nice overview of the issues surrounding social compliance audits, particularly in Asia. It was shot by a new company called Mosaic. If I had to summarize it, I'd use these … [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...]
Brands and Retailers: Please Stop Doing Social Compliance Audits in Asia
Finbarr Bermingham and Cissy Zhou wrote an interesting article in the South China Morning Post, entitled Bribes, fake factories and forged documents: the buccaneering consultants pervading China’s factory audits. An interesting Linkedin … [Read more...]