Annual audit cycle for tier-1 suppliers: (1) Pre-audit document review — ISO 9001/14001 certificates current, OEKO-TEX/GOTS/FSC valid, BSCI/Sedex audit reports current (within 24 months). (2) Site visit — 2-day on-site audit by senior QC manager (production line walkthrough, employee interviews, document inspection). (3) Sample testing — random sample collection, lab testing for color consistency, durability, harmful substance screening. (4) Score card — 0-100 against our standards. (5) Improvement plan if score < 85, exit plan if score < 70. Tier-2 suppliers: bi-annual remote audit (document review + sample testing only). Tier-3: annual document refresh. Average supplier retention: 8 years.
How we audit our material suppliers
Process documentation — merch.am