Building a Bespoke Supplier Audit Programme.
Assent Risk Management has years of experience building bespoke audit programmes and conducting audits.
Assigning an Audit Manager and Understanding the Scope
We will assign an Audit Manager to your programme who will work to understand the scope of your audit requirements, and advise on which requirements should be included.
As a minimum, we recommend basing the core audit criteria on your supplier agreement of contract, which will often have a number of stipulations which our auditors can objectively evidence.
Building the Audit Criteria
In addition to your core supplier requirements, we can also advise you on key compliance areas that should be built into your supplier audit programme to manage your supply chain risks and ensure you remain compliant with local legislation.
Some of these areas are listed below and include health & safety, ethical conduct, ESG and Information Security.
We understand that many of your clients may already be ISO Certified to relevant standards, so our second-party audits will focus on the processes and procedures specific to the product or service they provide to you.
Choosing the Audit Team
Once the audit criteria has been established we will select one or more auditors to deliver on the requirements, depending on the complexity of the programme and the competence requirements. Where necessary, we will also include technical experts.
Conducting the Audit and Reporting Findings
Our auditor(s) will attend the supplier’s site or conduct the audit remotely, compiling a detailed report and raising appropriate findings.
It’s important that all parties approach these audits in the spirit of continual improvement. We will disclose all findings to the supplier before closing the audit and provide a formal report to all parties.
If required we will also conduct follow up audits or monitor progress year-on-year.
Types of Supplier Audits
| Environmental Supplier Audits Assess suppliers’ compliance with environmental regulations, waste management, pollution control, and sustainability practices to minimise environmental impact. | Carbon Supplier Audits Evaluate suppliers’ carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, and efforts to reduce climate impact through energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. |
| Ethical Supplier Audits Review labour practices, human rights compliance, anti-corruption policies, and fair trade standards to ensure ethical sourcing and operations. | ESG Supplier Audits Assess suppliers’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, focusing on sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical business conduct. |
| Info Sec Supplier Audits Examine suppliers’ cybersecurity measures, data protection policies, and compliance with information security standards to mitigate risks. | Health & Safety Supplier Audits Ensure suppliers provide safe working conditions, proper training, and compliance with health and safety regulations to protect employees. |
| Safety Supplier Audits Focus on workplace safety measures, risk management, and emergency preparedness to prevent accidents and ensure regulatory compliance. | Quality Supplier Audits Verify suppliers meet product quality standards, process controls, and regulatory requirements to ensure consistent and reliable outputs. |
Benefits of Auditing the Supply Chain
- Determine suitability and stability.
- Appraise performance.
- Assess capability to meet your requirements.
- Manage risks associated with 3rd parties.
- Identify opportunities to work more closely together.
- Comply with local legislation.
Know who you are dealing with.
Supplier Evaluation & Monitoring
Managing supplier relationships is an on-going process that many organisations don’t have resources to properly manage.
Our auditors can design a supplier evaluation scheme, similar to pre-qualification questionnaires you might see in tenders, and can continually monitor supplier performance.
Find out more about out Supply Chain Services.
Need an Impartial Second-Party Supplier Audit?
Assurco is a specialist validation and verification company working with leading organisations to audit their operations and develop certification schemes that raise standards in industries. Contact them for more information.
