Jacket Factory Audit Checklist: 10 Core Assessment Indicators

Jacket Factory Audit Checklist: 10 Core Assessment Indicators

I. Basic Qualifications: Legality and Compliance are the Bottom Line for Cooperation
Core Assessment Points
* Business License and Production Permit: Confirm that the business scope includes "clothing production/jacket manufacturing" and that it is valid; if export qualifications are involved (such as customs registration, import and export rights), corresponding supporting documents must be provided.
* International Certifications: Prioritize factories that have passed ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System), BSCI (Business Social Standards Indication), or WRAP (Responsible Apparel Production Certification) – especially for customers in the European and American markets, BSCI/WRAP certification is key to avoiding labor compliance risks.
* Specialized Qualifications: If purchasing functional jackets (such as waterproof, fireproof, and antistatic jackets), verify whether the factory has the corresponding product testing qualifications (such as OEKO-TEX® fabric certification, EN 343 waterproof standard test report). Factory Audit Practical Suggestions:
**Require the factory to provide scanned copies of original certificates and verify their validity through the certification body's official website (e.g., BSCI website) to avoid "forged certificates";
**Inquire about any violations or penalties in the past two years (e.g., environmental or labor department penalties), and request the latest third-party audit report.**

II. Production Capacity: Ensure Orders Meet Both "Delivery Time" and "Output" Standards**
**Key Assessment Points:**
**Production Capacity:**
**Hardware Configuration:** The equipment condition and sophistication in the cutting workshop (number of automatic cutting machines, fabric spreading machine specifications), sewing workshop (number of flatbed sewing machines, overlock sewing machines, etc., and whether there are automated template machines), and finishing workshop (ironing tables, packaging lines);
**Actual Production Capacity:** The average daily output of jackets in the past three months (by style, such as casual jackets and Work Jackets), maximum monthly production capacity, and whether there are backup production lines to handle peak order volumes. Delivery Guarantee:
Production Cycle: Can the production cycle of regular jackets (e.g., pure Cotton Jackets) (from fabric warehousing to finished product delivery) meet your wholesale order delivery requirements (e.g., delivery within 30 days)?
Emergency Mechanism: Does the factory have backup suppliers or temporary capacity allocation plans in case of fabric delays or equipment malfunctions?
Factory Audit Suggestions:
Inspect the production workshop on-site, record the number of equipment in each process, and request a production daily report for the past month (verify that the actual capacity matches the capacity quoted);
Simulate an "urgent order" scenario, inquire how the factory adjusts its production plan, and assess its responsiveness.

III. Quality Control: End-to-End Quality Management from Raw Materials to Finished Products
Core Assessment Points:
Raw Material Testing:
Fabric Control: Does the factory have an incoming fabric testing process (e.g., color fastness, shrinkage rate, strength testing)? Can the factory provide quality inspection reports from fabric suppliers?
Accessory Control: What are the acceptance standards for accessories such as zippers (e.g., YKK, SBS), buttons, and Velcro? Are there batch traceability records for accessories? Production Process Quality Inspection: Key Process Inspections: Inspection frequency (e.g., once every 2 hours) and record forms for processes such as cutting (size deviation control range), sewing (stitch density, stitch flatness), and finishing (ironing temperature, packaging flatness); Non-conforming Product Handling: Whether there are clear non-conforming product labels, isolation areas, and rework/scrap procedures (e.g., rework rate controlled within 5%). Finished Product Sampling Inspection: Sampling Standards: Whether AQL sampling standards (e.g., AQL 2.5) are followed, and whether sampling items cover appearance (color difference, stains), size (garment length, shoulder width deviation), and functionality (water repellency test for waterproof jackets); Outgoing Product Report: Whether an outgoing quality inspection report is provided for each batch of finished products, and whether the report includes customer-specified testing items (e.g., CPSIA safety test for children's jackets in the European and American markets). Factory Audit Practice Suggestions:
Inspect the raw material testing room and request a live demonstration of fabric shrinkage testing;
Randomly select 10 finished products awaiting shipment and inspect them against AQL standards, verifying that the quality inspection records match the actual products.

IV. Supply Chain Management: Ensuring Stable Raw Material Supply
Key Assessment Points
Supplier Stability:
Fabric Suppliers: Does the supplier have a long-term core fabric supplier (cooperation period ≥ 2 years)? Are there at least 3 alternative fabric suppliers (to avoid the risk of stockouts from a single supplier)?
Accessory Suppliers: Does the supplier maintain a fixed inventory of accessories such as zippers and buttons (e.g., sufficient inventory to meet 15 days of production needs)?
Inventory Management:
Raw Material Inventory: The inventory turnover rate of fabrics and accessories (e.g., fabric inventory turnover not exceeding 30 days), and whether there is an inventory warning mechanism (e.g., automatically triggering procurement when inventory falls below a safety line);
Finished Product Inventory: Is there a dedicated finished product storage area? Does the storage environment meet requirements (e.g., moisture-proof, dust-proof, preventing jackets from getting damp and moldy)? Factory Audit Practice Recommendations: Request the factory to provide a list of core suppliers and cooperation agreements, and verify the authenticity of supplier cooperation by phone; Review the warehouse management system and verify whether the raw material inventory data matches the actual inventory.

V. Labor Compliance: Mitigating Brand Risks in the International Market Key Assessment Points: Employee Rights Protection: Labor Contracts: Whether written labor contracts are signed with all employees, and whether the contracts include core clauses such as salary, working hours, and social security; Salary and Benefits: Whether wages are paid in full each month (provide pay slips for the past 3 months), whether they meet the local minimum wage standard, and whether overtime pay is calculated at the legally mandated multiples (e.g., 1.5 times on weekdays, 2 times on weekends); Work Environment: Working Hours Compliance: Whether employees' monthly overtime hours are ≤36 hours (complying with labor standards in most countries), and whether there is forced overtime; Occupational Health: Whether the sewing workshop has ventilation equipment (to reduce thread dust), whether the finishing workshop is equipped with ironing tables and protective gloves, and whether employee medical checkups are regularly organized. Factory Audit Practice Suggestions: Randomly interview 3-5 employees (avoiding management) and ask questions such as "Have contracts been signed?" and "Is there overtime pay?" Verify that employee answers match the information provided by the factory. Review employee attendance records (last 3 months) and calculate average overtime hours to determine compliance.

VI. Environmental Compliance: Meets international market green requirements. Core Assessment Points: Production Wastewater Treatment: Wastewater from dyeing and washing processes treated (check wastewater treatment equipment operation status) and whether a discharge permit issued by the environmental protection department is available. Exhaust Gas Treatment: Exhaust gas from ironing and printing processes collected and purified using equipment (such as activated carbon adsorption devices), and whether emissions meet local environmental standards. Waste Recycling: Is there a sorting and recycling mechanism for fabric scraps (e.g., reusable fabrics used for small parts production, unusable parts handled by professional organizations)? Are environmentally friendly materials prioritized for packaging (e.g., biodegradable plastic bags, recycled cardboard boxes)? Factory Audit Practical Suggestions: Review environmental protection department's testing reports for the past year to confirm that wastewater and exhaust gas emissions meet standards; Inspect the waste storage area on-site to determine if there is a standardized sorting and recycling process.

VII. R&D Capabilities: Matching Market Trends and Customization Needs Key Assessment Points: Design Team: Does the company have a dedicated jacket design team (≥3 people)? Does the team have international market design experience (e.g., understanding the trends of European and American workwear jackets, and Japanese and Korean casual jackets)? Sample Development: Sample development cycle (≤7 days for regular styles, ≤15 days for complex functional styles); Does the company support customized development (e.g., adjusting fabrics, adding logos, optimizing patterns based on customer-provided designs)? Trend Response: Has the company launched new products that align with market trends in the past year (e.g., lightweight outdoor jackets, detachable inner jackets)? Are there records of new product testing and feedback? Factory Inspection Practice Suggestions: Review the design team's past work (e.g., jacket designs from the last two years) and inquire about their predictions for next season's international jacket trends; Submit a simple customization request (e.g., adding reflective strips to jacket cuffs) to test the factory's sample development response speed.

VIII. After-Sales Service: Resolving Potential Issues in Cooperation Key Assessment Points: After-Sales Response: Does the factory have a dedicated after-sales team? What is the response time for after-sales issues (e.g., providing solutions within 24 hours)? Quality Issue Handling: If quality issues arise in the finished product (e.g., loose threads, color difference), what are the factory's solutions (e.g., free replacement, covering return shipping costs, rework/repair)? Customer complaint rate over the past year (is it ≤1%) and complaint handling closure rate (is it 100% resolved)? Order Tracking: Does the factory provide real-time order progress tracking (e.g., production progress feedback through the ERP system or dedicated customer service)? Factory Audit Practice Recommendations: Request the factory to provide after-sales handling records for the past three months to assess problem-solving efficiency and customer satisfaction; Simulate a "receiving defective products" scenario and inquire about the factory's specific handling procedures to determine their sense of responsibility.

IX. Digital Management: Enhancing Cooperation Efficiency and Transparency Key Assessment Points: Production Management System: Does the factory use an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system to manage production plans, inventory, and orders? Does it use an MES (Manufacturing Execution System) to monitor production process progress? Data Transparency: Can the factory grant customers partial data access (such as viewing order production progress and raw material inventory status) to avoid an "information black box"? Document Management: Does the factory have an electronic document management system (such as storing quality inspection reports and customs declarations) for easy customer retrieval of required documents? Factory Audit Practice Recommendations: Request the factory to demonstrate the ERP system's order management module to check if data updates are timely; Inquire whether the factory can provide weekly/daily order progress reports to determine if data transparency meets requirements. 10. Case Studies: Verifying the Factory's International Service Capabilities
Key Assessment Points
International Client Experience: Has the factory served international wholesale clients in Europe, America, Southeast Asia, etc. (≥5 clients), and are the cooperation duration ≥2 years?
Order Matching: Has the factory received international orders similar in size and product type to yours (e.g., producing 10,000 work jackets for a European client)?
Client Feedback: Can the factory provide anonymous feedback from international clients (e.g., "Delivery time accuracy rate 98%", "Quality pass rate 99%)", or provide client contact information for verification (client authorization required).
Factory Audit Suggestions
Review the factory's international order contracts (redacting client privacy information), verifying order quantity, delivery country, and product type;
If possible, contact 1-2 past international clients to understand their cooperation experience (e.g., delivery time, quality, after-sales service).