US programme
A factory inspection for a US buyer must answer four separate questions in one visit: is this factory real, does it have the claimed capacity, does it meet US social-compliance expectations, and will it protect the buyer's IP. Our factory-inspection service delivers all four with a physical walk and a documented file — never a desk audit.
The four-pillar factory audit
1. Legal entity verification
GST registration cross-check with Government of India. PAN verification. MSME / Udyam registration where claimed. Company registration (Company Master Data — Ministry of Corporate Affairs). Bank reference cross-checked with the factory's declared main bank.
2. Capacity verification
Installed machinery counted against declared. Effective monthly output computed against claimed. Order-book review (does the factory have room for your programme, or are they overselling capacity?). Skilled labour headcount observed.
3. Social compliance
BSCI / Sedex / SA8000 certificate check (issuer + validity + audit findings). Wages, hours, minor-labour, safety, dormitory, fire-exit walk. Written statement of compliance if the factory does not hold a formal cert.
4. IP safety
Buyer NDA countersigned by the factory. No-competing-sample-display clause. Tooling ownership clause (US buyer's tooling is US buyer's property, held under a witnessed inventory list).
Deliverables
A single PDF audit file, per factory, delivered to the buyer within 5 working days of the physical walk. Photograph archive (machinery, floor, dormitory, fire exits, packaging area). Written findings against each of the four pillars. Green/amber/red recommendation.
Frequently asked
Questions US buyers ask us on this programme.
What is the difference between a factory audit and a factory inspection?
A factory inspection is the physical walk that verifies a factory is real, capable, safe and IP-safe — done before a factory is on your approved-supplier list. A quality inspection (AQL) is done on the finished goods, per PO, after production. We do both.
How long does a factory inspection take?
One full working day on-site plus 5 working days for documentation, GST/PAN cross-checks and delivery of the audit PDF.
Do you audit against BSCI or Sedex?
Both — we cross-check the factory's certificate with the issuer and walk the floor to confirm the audit findings still hold. If the factory does not have a formal certificate we can commission one with Intertek / SGS / Bureau Veritas.
Can we join the factory audit in person?
Yes — many of our US clients fly in for the factory walk once we have shortlisted. We coordinate visas, hotels, transport, translators (though most Indian factory management speaks English).
Is the audit conducted by your own team or a third party?
Our own on-payroll auditors. Third-party BSCI / Sedex certification remains with the accredited issuer.
Other US programmes
Continue on the US hub.
Start a US programme