Factory Audit & Supplier Verification in China
Before you commit, we visit and check factories: production capacity, past work, and whether they can deliver what they promise.
By the Sino Vorex team · Updated
What's included
- Checking the company's registration details
- On-site visits to see the production lines
- Reviewing capacity, equipment and past orders
- Flagging risks before you pay a deposit
What you receive
A factory check report with photos and a clear go / no-go view.
Why audit a factory before you order
A website, a good sample and a friendly salesperson tell you little about whether a supplier can make 5,000 units to the same standard. A factory audit checks that the company exists as described, that it really makes your product, and that it has the capacity and controls to deliver. It does this before you pay a deposit, which is when you have the most leverage.
Types of supplier check
| Check | What it covers | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Desk verification | Business registration, legal representative, registered capital, business scope and address, plus public records of disputes or abnormal operation | Every new supplier, before you order samples |
| On-site factory audit | A visit to the production site: lines, machinery, workforce, warehouse, quality-control points and showroom | Before a first order or a large order |
| Capability check | Whether the factory has made similar products, can meet your specifications and tolerances, and which processes it outsources | Custom or technical products |
What we check on site
- Company and legal: the business licence matches the name on quotes, contracts and the bank account you will pay; the business scope covers your product; the address on the licence is the site we visit.
- Production: machinery for your product is on site and running; approximate workforce and shifts; which steps are done in-house and which are outsourced (for example plating, printing or packaging).
- Capacity: monthly output, current workload, and whether your order and deadline fit.
- Quality control: incoming material checks, in-line checks, final inspection, test equipment, and how defects are recorded.
- Track record: similar products made for other buyers, export markets served, and whether claimed certificates can be verified with the body that issued them.
The full list we work through is in our factory audit checklist.
What the factory audit report contains
- A summary with a clear go / no-go / conditional view and the reasons for it.
- Verified company details from the business registry.
- Photos of the entrance, production lines, machinery, warehouse and QC area.
- An assessment of capacity and realistic lead time for your order.
- Risks we found, and what to ask the supplier to fix or put in the contract.
- Our recommendation on next steps.
Red flags that usually mean no
- The supplier refuses a visit, or moves it to an office or showroom away from production.
- The name on the business licence differs from the name on the bank account for payment.
- The machinery for your product is not on site ("our partner factory makes that part").
- Pressure to pay the deposit into a personal account.
- Certificates that the issuing body cannot confirm.
Timing and how audits are charged
Desk verification takes a few working days. An on-site audit is normally one day at the factory and can usually be scheduled within about a week, depending on the factory's location. On-site work is quoted per visit, including travel to the factory's city, and confirmed in writing before we go.
Example
Factory Vetting: common questions
Is a factory audit the same as a quality inspection?
No. A factory audit checks the supplier before you order. A quality inspection checks the goods themselves, during or after production.
Do you carry out social-compliance audits such as amfori BSCI or SMETA?
Those audits must be done by accredited audit firms. Our factory audit is a practical buyer's check, not a certification. If your customer requires a formal audit, we can help you arrange one with an accredited firm.
Can you audit a supplier I found myself?
Yes. Send us the company name and address, and we start with desk verification.
Will the factory know you are coming?
Usually yes, because we need access to the production floor. We agree the date with you, and with the factory at short notice where that is possible.