# Supplier Audit Checklist for On-Site and Remote Audits

> Source: https://netray.co/tools/supplier-audit-checklist
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: Free Tools

## Short answer

A 30-point supplier audit checklist covering quality system, process control, receiving, delivery and records. Tick items, see a score, export the result.

## Category

quality

## Audience

- Supplier quality
- Buyer
- Quality engineer

## Tool

**Kind:** checklist

**Groups:**

#### Quality management system

**Items:**

**Text:** Quality manual or equivalent system documentation is current and controlled

**Critical:** true

**Text:** Certificate (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100 or similar) is valid and the scope covers the parts you buy

**Critical:** true

Internal audits were performed in the last 12 months and findings are tracked to closure

Management review records exist with actions and owners

**Text:** Document and record control prevents use of obsolete revisions at the point of use

**Critical:** true

Training and competence records exist for operators and inspectors on your parts

#### Process control and production

**Items:**

**Text:** Control plan or equivalent defines inspection frequency, method and reaction plan for your characteristics

**Critical:** true

Work instructions are available at the workstation and match the released revision

Process capability (Cpk or Ppk) data exists for key characteristics

First piece or setup approval is performed and recorded

**Text:** Nonconforming material is identified, segregated and controlled

**Critical:** true

Preventive maintenance of critical equipment is planned and recorded

#### Measurement and inspection

**Items:**

**Text:** Gauges and instruments are in a calibration program with traceable records

**Critical:** true

Out of tolerance calibration results trigger a review of affected product

Measurement system analysis (gauge R and R) exists for critical characteristics

Final inspection records can be retrieved by lot or serial number

Inspection status is visible: accepted, rejected, on hold

Certificates of conformance and material certs match the purchase order requirements

#### Purchasing, receiving and traceability

**Items:**

**Text:** Sub-tier suppliers are evaluated and approved, with flow-down of your requirements

**Critical:** true

Incoming inspection or certification review is performed on raw material

**Text:** Lot and heat traceability is maintained from raw material to shipment

**Critical:** true

FIFO or controlled storage prevents mixing of lots and shelf-life expiry

Counterfeit or suspect part controls exist where required by contract

Packaging and labelling follow your specification

#### Corrective action, delivery and change control

**Items:**

**Text:** Corrective action process uses root cause analysis (8D, 5 Why or equivalent) and verifies effectiveness

**Critical:** true

Customer complaints and returns are logged and trended

On-time delivery is measured and reported by the supplier

Capacity and lead time are reviewed against your forecast

**Text:** Process and design changes are notified to customers before implementation

**Critical:** true

Business continuity plan covers fire, supply interruption and key equipment failure

**Scoring Note:** Score = items passed divided by items audited. Treat any failed critical item as a finding that needs a corrective action request regardless of the overall percentage. Mark items you did not audit as not applicable and remove them from the count.

## Content

**Intro:** A supplier audit is only as good as the questions you take with you. This checklist gives buyers and supplier quality engineers a consistent set of 30 points across the quality system, the process, measurement, traceability and corrective action, so every supplier is judged on the same basis.

**Sections:**

#### How to use the checklist

**Body:** Tick each item as you verify it, using records and observation rather than the supplier's statement. Sample at least a few records per item: a calibration sticker is not proof of a calibration certificate. Flag critical items first, because a failed critical point can justify a supplier corrective action request even when the total score looks acceptable. Export the result to PDF for the audit report or to Excel to keep a history by supplier.

#### The method behind it

**Body:** This follows the structure of second party audits under ISO 19011 and the process approach of ISO 9001, IATF 16949 and AS9100: system, process, product, and the loop that closes problems. The list is generic by design, so add customer specific requirements such as special process approvals, source inspection or contractual flow-downs before you audit. A scoring bands approach is common, for example 90 percent or higher approved, 75 to 89 conditional, below 75 not approved, but your own procedure decides.

**Bullets:**

- Plan the audit around the parts and processes you actually buy
- Review the last audit and open corrective actions beforehand
- Follow one part from receiving to shipment as a trace exercise
- Record objective evidence for every finding

#### Reading the result and common mistakes

**Body:** A high score on documents with a weak shop floor is the classic trap. Spend most of the time at the machines and in receiving. Do not audit only the quality manager's office, talk to operators about the reaction plan. Another mistake is treating the audit as a one-time approval: tie the result to the approved supplier list, set a re-audit interval by risk, and track findings to closure with dates. Do not record opinions as findings, write what you saw and the requirement it failed.

#### Connecting audit results to your ERP

**Body:** Audit outcomes are most useful when they change behavior in purchasing. Most ERPs let you block or flag a vendor, for example a vendor status or quality block in the vendor master, so a failed audit stops new purchase orders until released. Record the audit date and score against the supplier record so buyers see it when sourcing.

**Cta:** If you want audit scores, delivery data and quality rejects pulled together from your ERP automatically, Netray can build that view on your own data, on-prem if needed.

**Faq:**

#### How often should I audit a supplier?

**Answer:** Set the interval by risk. Critical or new suppliers are often audited yearly, stable low-risk suppliers every two to three years, with desk reviews in between. Trigger an extra audit after serious escapes, ownership changes, relocation or a major process change.

#### Can I run this as a remote audit?

**Answer:** Yes for document, system and record items using screen share and sampled records. Process, housekeeping and traceability checks are much weaker remotely, so use live video walk-throughs or schedule an on-site visit for high-risk suppliers.

#### What score makes a supplier approved?

**Answer:** There is no universal threshold. Many companies use roughly 85 to 90 percent for approved, a conditional band with an action plan, and a lower band for not approved. Any failed critical item should block full approval until closed.

#### Does this replace a certification audit?

**Answer:** No. A valid ISO 9001 or AS9100 certificate shows a third party audited the system, but it does not cover your specific parts, flow-downs or process capability. A supplier audit checks that fit against your own requirements.

## Search terms

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