Supplier audit checklist template

Before conducting your audit, collect the supplier’s quality manual, previous audit results, certification documentation, recent corrective actions, and performance metrics. Review your contract requirements and any industry-specific regulations that apply. This preparation helps you focus on potential risk areas and ensures a more productive audit that addresses your specific quality concerns.

Conduct some unannounced audits alongside scheduled ones to see day-to-day operations. Request evidence spanning different time periods, not just recent documentation. Speak with various employees at different levels, not just management. Follow up on previous findings to verify sustained improvement, and cross-reference production records with quality data to identify any patterns or inconsistencies.

First, clearly document the specific deficiencies found during the audit. Then work with the supplier to develop a time-bound corrective action plan addressing each gap. Provide resources or training if needed, schedule a follow-up audit to verify improvements, and consider implementing additional incoming inspection until the supplier demonstrates consistent quality management system performance.