Ethical Audit Standards
For a modern business, an ethical supply chain is no longer an optional “feel-good” PR tool. Today, consumers, governments and NGOs are putting increasing pressure on brands and retailers to ensure transparency throughout their supply chains. Social accountability is an important element of a company’s sourcing and marketing strategy, which helps ensure better product quality, foster consumer loyalty, and emphasize good corporate citizenship
AI offers comprehensive ethical audit programs that can be conducted according to international standards, your company’s in-house specifications or our own Best-In-Class Protocol.
All AI ethical audit programs cover the following aspects:
- Hygiene, health and safety
- Waste management
- Child and young labor
- Labor practices, including forced labor, worker representation, disciplinary practices and discrimination.
- Working hours and wages
Client-Specific Ethical Audit Protocols
If your company already has a social accountability program in place, AI can tailor its existing ethical audit programs to suit your needs and ensure the compliance of your suppliers to your specific requirements.
Ethical Audits to International Standards
Our professionally certified auditors can conduct ethical audits according to all major internationally recognized social audits standards, including:
- SA 8000
- SMETA (Sedex)
- ETI (ILO)
- Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC)
- Initiative Clause Sociale (ICS)
AI’s Best-In-Class Ethical Audit Protocol
Using the best practices of existing standards and building on our own experience from performing over 10,000 audits every year, we have developed our own Best-In-Class ethical audit protocol.
When AI auditors visit a factory, they use GPS coordinates to confirm that your products are only being manufactured at the approved facility, and no unauthorized subcontracting is taking place.
Our on-site process consists of:
- Opening meeting
- Factory tour
- Document review
- Worker interviews (group and individual)
- Closing meeting with Corrective Action Plan (CAP) review
Furthermore, our Supplier Workshops (held before and during the audit) help educate your suppliers about the audit program, get them more involved and help them achieve compliance.
Our worker interviews are structured and held in a way that ensures transparency and honesty. During the interview, our auditors use voice stress analysis and cross-check information to detect any deception or inconsistencies. Factory staff are also given an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback.
AI Ethical Auditors
AI has adopted an approach based on the key competences of auditors – attitude, skills and knowledge – in line with the reference tools developed by the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP).
All AI auditors are professionally certified and undergo regular training to stay up to date with the latest standards and regulatory requirements. The average AI ethical auditor has performed 580 audits.
Why Perform an Ethical Audit?
- Ensure decent working conditions and human rights throughout your supply chain
- Comply with statutory requirements (e.g. Modern Slavery Act 2015)
- Prevent unauthorized subcontracting
- Receive an accurate picture of ethical compliance in your supply chain
- Foster cooperative relations with your suppliers
- Improve brand image and increase consumer loyalty
The AI Benefits
Why Compliance Enviro Services
- All-inclusive pricing
- An inspector onsite within 48 hours[1]
- Same day audit reports[2]
- Easy online scheduling of services
Your Eyes in the Supply Chain!® – We are an independent, certified and licensed quality control company, working on your side to protect your business interests in the supply chain.
Manage Your Quality Control Process Online – Create your free account, schedule your Inspections online, make payment arrangements, and receive your detailed Inspection report electronically.
Safer – Compliance Enviro Services utilizes the strictest international standards ensuring product safety and regulatory requirements are met.
Speed and Flexibility – We guarantee to be at any factory in Asia within 48 hours.[2] Clients are allowed to modify or cancel orders up until 4 pm (China time) the day before the scheduled inspection.
Comprehensive Inspection Reports – Delivered 80% of the time, the same day as the inspection. Every report includes detailed pictures; you see what the inspector sees.