FREE 4+ Manufacturing Audit Checklist Samples [ Process, Internal, Safety ]

So let’s say that you have found a brand new manufacturer for your business that can provide you with a wide variety of products that you have long since needed. Given with a professional presentation and a great medium for communication, it easily gives you high hopes  that you may have a new great business partner. However, as a businessman, you should know better than to rush a massive order of goods from this new manufacturer equipped only with your high hopes for assurance. Diligence requires proper supplier evaluation that evaluates their products and services using an effective manufacturing audit checklist to make sure that whatever your new product supplier may be offering you, is exactly what you are getting.

Manufacturing audit checklists help you avoid production disasters. Suppliers and manufacturers typically don’t have large labs or facilities to verify their material composition or production of  goods and services, nor are there any record of having such facilities. You know these details because these are part of the initial audit that is required for a business partnership and subsequent reports. It’s also better that you yourself are confident and and is sure and satisfied with the products and services that you may receive, rather than chalking your assurances up to testimonials alone. Regardless of how confident you may be with your supplier, there’s no substitute to having a well written manufacturing audit report to have on hand. It essentially allows you to verify your supplier’s capabilities and avoid potential production issues in the future. Before you actually write your own manufacturing audit report, make sure that you are properly acquainted with it and how it works. Check out these manufacturing audit checklist samples that we have listed for you down below. Once you’ve acquainted yourself with the document, feel free to use these samples as guides or even as templates for when you are writing your own audit checklist.

Manufacturing Audit Checklist Samples

1. Manufacturing Process Audit Checklist

2. Manufacturing Audit Security Checklist

3. Manufacturing Audit Checklist

4. Sample Manufacturing Audit Checklist

5. Manufacturing Internal Audit Checklist

What Is a Manufacturing Audit Checklist?

A manufacturing audit checklist is a very important tool to be used to compare a business practice or production of a supplier’s products and services to the requirements and criteria set by either the company itself or by the ISO standards. A manufacturing audit checklist contains everything that is needed to complete an audit or inspection in an accurate and efficient manner. It’s a systematic examination of the manufacturing aspect of an business or a supplier to asses conformance with a pre-established set of standards. The inspection is usually conducted by an appointed auditor. Passing a manufacturing audit provides you and your company an assurance that whatever you are receiving from your manufacturer is at par with the standards you were given in the first place. The document is an invaluable tool especially for manufacturers that require a series of quality checks to ensure every part of the  production is of the highest quality. It improves the products and services they offer which ultimately results in better production quality.

What Should be Included in a Manufacturing Audit Checklist

The company may have set their own criteria for quality checks and verification during an inspection  or audit. Regardless of a checklist’s shape or form, manufacturing audits should at least include these essential components.

1. Zero tolerance for severe violations
   Companies typically allow for small mishaps and deviations from the expectations in some of the checkpoints in the checklist. However, you should remember that it is wide not to be too lenient with these violations, especially in the more serious ones. Verify mandatory licenses and certificates to make sure these are properly followed.
2. Basic facilities, environment, and maintenance
   It is best to tour the full facility of your potential manufacturer beforehand because it is a significantly basic and vital part of the audit process overall. Appointed auditors should record their findings in a different relevant section of the checklist to cover the production and manufacturing facilities.
3. Quality management system organization
   A well written quality audit checklist has  to include a section dedicated to the manufacturer’s quality management system. This section is central to understanding the quality standards of your manufacturer and if they meet them.
4. Incoming quality controls for materials and components
   Your manufacturer and supplier shouldn’t cut costs by using substandard materials. Quality measures of raw materials make sure that this particular circumstance does not happen to you and your company. Substandard and inferior  materials make production very difficult and even costs higher to redo than just using the appropriate ones.
5. Identify quality issues through during production controls
   During production controls are essentially inspections that happen during the production and manufacturing process of the product. It helps you and your supplier identify  underlying issues as they arise and address them before they cause any significant trouble to the overall order.
6. Finished goods control and inspection
   Although during production controls are highly necessary,  some issues still manage to go through and some only surface during the packaging process. That’s why it is imperative to have a final control and inspection once after the product has been through the complete process and is on its way to packaging.
7. Lab testing capabilities
   Laboratory testing is an integral  part of an inspection especially for manufacturers whose components typically go through multiple stages of production. Evaluating lab testing capabilities can be a critical selling point, especially for those whose components need to be lab tested.
8. HR Recruitment and training practices
   A declining workforce is the last thing you need in looking for a manufacturer that you can rely on. Lack of manpower can lead to delays and further issues in quality. That’s why audit checklists should have a section dedicated to structured training programs for new and current employees, new employee orientation, and formal training records.
9. Engineering, research, and design capabilities
   Although it’s not completely mandatory, a lot of importers and manufacturers appreciate the presences of proper engineering capabilities and design teams to be able to handle on site productions. These components largely  contribute especially if you want to partner with a supplier that is able to develop  new products unique to the ones they are already producing.
10. Business development and management behavior
    It is important for your supplier to have a positive organizational structure and management attitude. It tells you about how much ability they currently have to effectively communicate with their clients and customers.

FAQs

Several components such as requirements and product criteria vary from one manufacturer to another. These certain components are based upon whatever product or service they may be offering and the things that you might want to produce. So in looking for a potential business partner, these things might be something that you need to consider. Working with other external manufacturers come with their own risks. Having a trusty manufacturing audit checklist lets you and your company evaluate these risks early on to know if the venture will be worth it or not.