Factory Audit Services: Verify Any Supplier in 5 Days
TL;DR: A factory audit is an on-site inspection that verifies a supplier's legal status, production capacity, quality systems and social compliance before you place a purchase order. Small World India performs 400+ factory audits every year across India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — from quick capability checks to full BSCI/Sedex/SA8000 assessments.
Turnaround: 5 working days from booking to signed report.
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What is a factory audit?
Answer: A factory audit is a systematic, on-site evaluation of a manufacturer against a defined checklist covering legal registration, production floor, quality management, labour standards and export experience. The audit produces a scored report with photo evidence, red-flag findings and corrective-action recommendations.
A factory audit is a systematic, on-site evaluation of a manufacturer against a defined checklist covering legal registration, production floor, quality management, labour standards and export experience. The audit produces a scored report with photo evidence, red-flag findings and corrective-action recommendations. It is the single most important step before signing a PO with any new overseas supplier.
Business licence, tax registration and export code verification
Production capacity, machinery count and utilisation
Quality management system (ISO 9001, IQC/IPQC/OQC)
Social compliance (child labour, wages, working hours, safety)
Environmental compliance (ETP, waste, ZDHC)
Types of factory audits we offer
Every audit is delivered by a NABCB-accredited lead auditor and a subject-matter expert for your product category. Choose the depth that matches your risk profile:
Quick Capability Audit ($299) — 4-hour visit, 30-point checklist
Technical Audit ($499) — full day, ISO 9001 aligned
Social Compliance Audit ($799) — SA8000 / BSCI / Sedex SMETA 2-pillar
Ethical + Environmental ($1,199) — SMETA 4-pillar with ZDHC
C-TPAT Security Audit ($699) — for US importers
What you receive in the audit report
Answer: Reports are delivered within 48 hours of the on-site visit as a PDF (typically 30–60 pages) plus a raw photo/video pack. Every finding is scored, geo-tagged and time-stamped so you can defend the decision to your board or brand.
Reports are delivered within 48 hours of the on-site visit as a PDF (typically 30–60 pages) plus a raw photo/video pack. Every finding is scored, geo-tagged and time-stamped so you can defend the decision to your board or brand.
Executive summary with go / conditional / no-go recommendation
80–200 date-stamped photos of the shop floor
10-minute walk-through video
Capacity calculation (units/day) with evidence
Corrective Action Plan (CAP) with re-audit timeline
When should you order a factory audit?
Answer: Order an audit before your first PO with any new supplier, before onboarding a supplier from an online marketplace like Alibaba or IndiaMART, when scaling an existing supplier past $250K/year, and annually for all Tier-1 suppliers as part of your responsible-sourcing program.
Order an audit before your first PO with any new supplier, before onboarding a supplier from an online marketplace like Alibaba or IndiaMART, when scaling an existing supplier past $250K/year, and annually for all Tier-1 suppliers as part of your responsible-sourcing program.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a factory audit cost?
Audits start at $299 for a quick capability check and go up to $1,199 for a full SMETA 4-pillar ethical audit. Volume discounts apply for 10+ audits per year.
How long does a factory audit take?
The on-site visit takes 4–8 hours depending on audit depth. Reports are delivered within 48 hours of the visit. Total booking-to-report time is typically 5 working days.
Do you offer BSCI or Sedex audits?
Yes — we deliver BSCI-aligned and Sedex SMETA 2-pillar and 4-pillar audits through NABCB-accredited auditors. Reports are uploaded to the Sedex platform on request.
Can you audit factories outside India?
Yes. We audit in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Vietnam through partner networks. Same 5-day turnaround, same reporting format.
How do I get started with Small World India?
Send us your product specs or reference images via the contact form. Within 48 hours we shortlist 3 vetted factories with FOB pricing, MOQ, and lead times — at no cost.
What is the typical MOQ for sourcing from India?
MOQs range from 100 units (jewelry, handicrafts) to 5,000+ units (textiles, packaging). We negotiate flexible MOQs for first orders and combine SKUs across factories when needed.
How does Small World India ensure product quality?
Every order includes factory audit, mid-production inspection, and pre-shipment AQL 2.5 inspection by our in-house QC team. You receive photos, videos, and a full inspection report before shipment leaves the port.
Which countries do you ship to?
We export to 50+ countries with primary buyer concentration in the USA, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, UAE, and Japan. We handle FOB, CIF, and DDP terms.
Related Resources
Explore our guides and articles to help you source successfully from India.
Third Party Inspection Services
In-process and pre-shipment inspections.
Read MoreSupplier Verification Checklist
The 60-point checklist we use in every audit.
Read MoreSourcing Agent India
End-to-end sourcing with audits built in.
Read MoreQuality Control Inspection
Post-audit QC to protect your PO.
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