/ factory audit / desk review / supplier due diligence
A Desk Review Before Paying for a Third-Party Factory Audit
A desk review can prevent buyers from auditing the wrong site or the wrong company.
A factory audit costs money and time. Buyers should not spend that money until they know which entity and which site need review. A short desk review can prevent the common mistake of auditing a site that does not match the invoice issuer or production plan.
Start by mapping the transaction. List seller legal name, invoice issuer, bank beneficiary, declared factory, production address, product category, and any related entities. If those fields do not connect, an audit may answer the wrong question.
Ask whether the audit goal is identity, capacity, quality system, social compliance, or shipment readiness. One audit format will not cover every concern. A supplier verification report may be better for identity questions, while an on-site audit may be better for process and capacity questions.
Check whether the supplier will allow an inspector to visit the exact production site. If the supplier keeps moving the inspection address or offers only a showroom, pause and clarify the site role before booking.
Keep the desk review brief. A one-page pre-audit note with open questions can save the buyer from paying for a report that looks professional but does not reduce the actual risk.
Working checklist
- Map transaction entities first.
- Define audit purpose.
- Confirm exact inspection site.
- Check invoice and beneficiary names.
- Write open questions before booking.