Site and entity information
Collect the supplier’s stated company details, production address and relevant contacts.
Check which site and business the proposed audit will cover.
SOURCING SERVICE / FACTORY AUDIT COORDINATION

FACTORY AUDIT COORDINATION IN CHINA
Factory audit coordination in China connects the buyer, supplier and appointed audit provider. Start with the legal entity, production address, intended product and the questions that could affect your purchase. Agree access, audit criteria, reporting and any follow-up before scheduling. Coordination is not an independent certification or a guarantee of future production.
01 / SERVICE DELIVERABLES
The report should address the agreed site, criteria and evidence requirements.
Collect the supplier’s stated company details, production address and relevant contacts.
Check which site and business the proposed audit will cover.
Record buyer questions about capability, processes or management controls.
Have the appointed provider confirm suitable criteria and exclusions.
Coordinate the agreed provider, site access, timing and supplier contacts.
Confirm fees, report format and any travel or additional charges.
Connect the audit report and permitted supporting records with the buyer’s questions.
Ask the provider to explain limitations or unresolved findings.
Track the supplier’s responses to agreed findings and requested evidence.
Let the buyer decide whether further verification is needed.
02 / CHOOSE THE SUPPORT SCOPE
Review these situations when defining the factory audit coordination scope.
| Your situation | Support to review | Keep clear |
|---|---|---|
| You are evaluating a new factory | Capability audit scope | Identify the processes and products relevant to the proposed order. |
| You have unresolved supplier concerns | Targeted evidence review | Define the exact question and evidence required. |
| A report lists corrective actions | Follow-up coordination | Agree closure evidence and whether another visit is needed. |
Confirm the deliverables, evidence, fees and buyer approval points before the work is arranged.
03 / FACTORY AUDIT COORDINATION WORKFLOW
Record the current information, unresolved questions and approval needed at each handover.
Share supplier details, site address, product and the decision the audit should inform.
Agree criteria, access, exclusions, costs and reporting with the appropriate provider.
Align supplier contacts, production availability and document requests.
Receive the report, clarify limitations and track buyer-approved follow-up.

04 / DEFINE THE EVIDENCE
A factory may operate several lines or subcontract particular steps. Identify which process is relevant to your product and whether it will be operating during the proposed visit. The audit provider should state what could and could not be observed.
Explore supplier & factory sourcing05 / RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIMITS
Agree these boundaries for factory audit coordination.
| Decision area | Support to discuss | Approval / specialist responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Audit criteria | Coordinate the buyer’s questions and provider response. | The appointed auditor confirms methods, evidence and report limitations. |
| Site access | Arrange supplier contacts and agreed scheduling. | The supplier confirms access and the accuracy of information supplied. |
| Findings and corrective action | Track reports and supplier follow-up. | The buyer decides whether findings satisfy its supplier-approval criteria. |
| Certification or legal review | Identify separate specialist needs. | Only the relevant qualified body or adviser can provide the required determination. |
The proposed service scope, specialist arrangements and charges require confirmation. Coordination does not guarantee supplier or product outcomes.

06 / PREPARE THE HANDOVER
A site audit reviews the agreed factory questions. Product inspection checks defined goods against acceptance criteria. Use the appropriate task for the decision, and commission qualified testing separately when a product requires it.
Explore product inspection & quality control08 / PREPARE YOUR ENQUIRY
Send the supplier name, production address, intended product and audit questions. Include any existing report, requested timing and the decision you need the evidence to support.
SOURCING PREPARATION

Prepare the product references and supplier questions needed for factory audit coordination.
Explore sourcing guidesSUPPLIER CHECKS

Identify which supplier claims need evidence, and keep capability checks separate from product acceptance.
Review supplier managementSHIPPING PREPARATION

Use confirmed packing records, supplier ready dates and a defined destination for the freight handover.
Explore shipping guides09 / PRACTICAL BUYING GUIDES
10 / FACTORY AUDIT COORDINATION FAQ
Review the service scope, required information and buyer responsibilities before requesting assistance.
It can cover scope preparation, supplier contacts, provider scheduling, report handover and agreed corrective-action follow-up. The appointed provider conducts the audit under its confirmed scope.
No. A factory audit addresses defined site or process questions, while a product inspection checks specified goods. They may inform different stages of a buying decision.
Provider arrangements can be reviewed for the site and requested criteria. Confirm the provider’s suitability, independence, scope and charges before appointment.
Provide the supplier entity, factory address, product, relevant processes, buyer questions and intended timing. Existing reports can help identify the evidence still needed.
Coverage depends on the agreed scope, access and activity at the site. Ask the provider to identify lines, areas or processes that were not reviewed.
Follow-up can be coordinated using the report, supplier responses and buyer-approved evidence requests. The buyer and provider should decide how closure is assessed.
An audit records findings within a particular scope and time. It does not guarantee future product quality, delivery or supplier performance. Define ongoing controls separately.
They depend on site location, provider, scope, access, reporting and follow-up. Request a written scope and charges before scheduling.
FACTORY AUDIT COORDINATION ENQUIRY
Send the supplier name, production address, intended product and audit questions. Include any existing report, requested timing and the decision you need the evidence to support.
Include the current stage, relevant supplier contacts and the decisions still open. Availability, deliverables, charges and approval responsibilities are confirmed against the brief.