Supplier Audit

SEDEX audit content

Sedex/Smeta

SMETA is Sedex's audit method and one of the world's three major social responsibility audit methods. Its audit mode is divided into two modules (Sedex 2 pillar) and four modules (Sedex 4 pillar). Generally, factories only need to do 2-Pillar. Sedex 4 pillar is relatively rare, and it mainly depends on customer requirements.

The second module (Sedex 2 pillar) mainly reviews: labor standards, health and safety, and attached elements (management system, labor rights, subcontracting and home work, and reduced environment version).

The four modules (Sedex 4 pillar) mainly review: labor standards, health and safety, environmental extended version, and business ethics

SEDEX rating results

*Desktop: Non conformities discovered during the audit, such as the lack of a catering service license, can be closed on the CAP by submitting rectified images to the audit party. Once accepted, the non conformities will be marked as "D"

*Follow up: Non conformities found during the audit, such as insufficient salary payments, must be followed up on during the second on-site audit. Such non conformities will be marked as "F". SMETA audit does not issue certificates, only provides a PDF version of the audit report, which does not include audit scores, grades, whether it has passed or not. Factories that have completed Sedex certification will receive a factory code Z (&ZS number, which can be checked on the Sedex official website).

Certification fee

The cost of Sedex/Smeta and SEDEX certification varies depending on the type of factory and the number of auditors. The overall cost of SEDEX certification includes: audit fee+consulting fee+rectification fee. The total cost is directly related to the factory size, buyer requirements, audit company, and consulting company

certification process

SEDEX Factory Certification Application Process

1. Registration as a member: The factory fills in the factory information on the SEDEX official website, registers as a member, and pays the membership fee. Official website registration is mainly used for uploading reports in the later stage, so that customers can understand the information of the factory. If there is no need to upload a report, there is no need to register.

2. Initiate application: The customer initiates an application to the designated application agency, or the factory initiates an audit application to the auditing company itself.

3. Submit Application Form: After initiating the application, the reviewing agency will send the application form to the factory, which needs to be filled out and submitted.

4. Payment of audit fees: The factory pays relevant fees to the audit agency, such as audit fees, etc.

5. Audit Schedule: After receiving the audit fee, the audit company will send an audit questionnaire and confirmation letter to the factory, which will be filled out and sent back. Based on the audit questionnaire provided by the factory, the auditing company will develop an audit plan and create an internal audit task plan, including the arrangement of auditors and audit dates.

6. Implementation audit: On the designated audit date or audit notification period, auditors from the auditing company will conduct the audit at the audited factory.

The audit will take approximately 7 working days to complete, and the factory will receive the SEDEX formal audit report issued by the audit agency.