China Factory Audit Service
Review the supplier behind the quotation
A factory audit provides a closer look at a supplier’s premises, production capability and operating processes before you commit to a significant order or long-term relationship.
Supplier documents, marketplace listings and quotations do not always show how a supplier actually operates. An arranged site visit can provide practical observations about the premises, equipment, workforce, current production activity and quality processes relevant to your order. Prestige Sourcing is New Zealand owned and based in Shenzhen, supporting New Zealand and Australian buyers across China.
- On-site premises review
- Production capability observations
- Photos, video and written findings
NZ-owned
Shenzhen Based
On-Site Review
Agreed Audit Scope
What a factory audit can cover
Premises and production
The visit can review the factory location, premises, production areas, machinery and equipment, workforce, current activity, production flow and apparent capability. The focus is on what can be observed at the site during the arranged audit.
Quality and materials
Checks may include quality-control procedures, incoming-material handling, production-stage controls, storage areas and the way finished goods are handled. Product-specific questions should be agreed before the visit so the auditor knows what evidence matters.
Packing and records
Packaging areas, finished-goods storage and relevant factory documentation may be reviewed within scope. Photos, video and written observations can record the site and apparent processes, subject to access granted by the supplier.
When to arrange a factory audit
Before a major commitment
An audit can be commercially sensible before a high-value first order, before paying for tooling or moulds, or before entering a long-term supply arrangement with a new factory.
When capability matters
Arrange a visit when the product requires particular machinery or processes, the supplier makes significant capacity claims, or you need more than remote supplier verification can provide.
When subcontracting is a concern
A site review may help clarify where work appears to take place and whether the premises and equipment align with the supplier’s claims. It cannot prove that subcontracting will never occur after the visit.
Factory audit versus product inspection
These services answer different questions. One does not automatically replace the other, even when both take place at the same supplier.
Factory audit
A factory audit reviews the supplier, premises and operation. It looks at matters such as equipment, production areas, current activity, material flow, quality procedures and apparent capability against an agreed commercial scope.
Product inspection
A product inspection reviews a specific order, product or production batch against agreed specifications and checks. It is normally planned around an actual purchase order and inspection timing.
Using both
An audit may help assess a potential supplier before ordering. A later inspection can check the goods being produced. Buyers often need both when supplier capability and order quality are each commercially important.
How the audit service works
The visit is planned around the supplier location, your objectives and the areas that can realistically be reviewed during the agreed time on site.
- Provide the supplier details, product information and the audit objectives.
- Prestige reviews the location, access requirements and proposed audit scope.
- The visit is arranged with the supplier and the agreed areas are reviewed on site.
- Photos, video and written findings are provided, including practical observations that need clarification.
- Further sourcing, sample, production-monitoring or inspection support can be arranged where required.
Audit scope and technical limitations
A useful audit starts with clear objectives. The exact coverage must be agreed before the visit rather than assumed after the auditor arrives.
Practical commercial review
Prestige can conduct or coordinate a practical factory review focused on the supplier’s premises, apparent production capability, workflow, documentation and the commercial questions relevant to your proposed order.
Specialist input where needed
Highly technical, regulated or specialised products may require a qualified engineer, technical auditor, laboratory or industry specialist. We can help identify that need, but a general commercial audit does not replace specialist certification or engineering work.
Related services
Factory auditing can work alongside China Supplier Verification, China Quality Control, Product Development and Sample Coordination and China Sourcing. The combination should be based on the supplier, product and order risk rather than used as a fixed checklist.
Factory audit FAQs
How is a factory audit different from supplier verification?
Supplier verification is mainly a remote review of company records, documents, communication and payment information. A factory audit is an arranged on-site review of premises, equipment, production activity and operating processes.
Can you audit any factory in China?
Coverage depends on the factory location, supplier cooperation, access, travel requirements and the agreed scope. We will review the address and objectives first, then confirm whether Prestige or an appropriate partner can complete the visit.
Does a factory audit guarantee product quality?
No. An audit provides observations about the supplier and operation at the time of the visit. It does not guarantee the quality of a future production batch. A product inspection should be separately planned for the actual order.
Will the audit report include photos and video?
Photos, video and written observations can normally be included within the agreed scope, subject to the supplier permitting access and recording in the relevant areas. Any important access limitation will be noted.
Need a closer look at a Chinese factory?
Send the supplier address, product details and audit objectives and we can confirm the practical next step.
