Auditing four factories in four categories with four different checklists is how buyers end up with incomparable findings and no basis for a decision. Use one framework and vary only the technical evidence.
The shared framework
| Block | What it proves | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Legal and financial | DBD registration, export licence, solvency | Every category |
| Capacity | Machines, shifts, current load, headroom | Every category |
| Quality system | Documented process control, records, traceability | Every category |
| Technical capability | Category-specific equipment and testing | Varies |
| Social and environmental | Labour, safety, permits | Every category |
| Export readiness | Documentation experience for your destination | Every category |
Only the technical block changes by category. That is what makes findings comparable across a mixed supply base.
Category-specific evidence to demand
- Metal fabrication and CNC — CMM or gauge records, welder qualifications, material certificates, calibration logs.
- Injection moulding — tool maintenance records, process parameter sheets, resin traceability, short-shot and dimensional records.
- Textiles — fabric inward inspection, shrinkage and colourfastness tests, sewing line AQL records.
- Food, supplement and personal care — GMP or HACCP certification, batch records, ingredient traceability, cleaning validation.
- Electricals — component sourcing controls, safety testing, previous certification files.
Run one visit, not four
Thai industrial clusters are geographically concentrated. A single trip through the Bangkok–Samut Prakan–Eastern Seaboard corridor can cover fabrication, moulding, packaging and assembly. Bundle audits into one visit window and the cost per audit drops sharply.
Score, then decide
Score each block and weight it by what matters for the category. A moulder with excellent tooling records and average social compliance is a different decision from a food plant with the reverse profile. Feed scores into the ongoing review process described in the supplier scorecard and QBR guide.
Audit is not inspection
An audit qualifies a factory once. Inspection verifies each order. Both are required; passing an audit is not evidence that your lot is good. Compliance evidence collected during the audit should feed the SKU packs in the compliance-by-category matrix.
How TUSKO audits
We use a structured 7-step audit covering legal, financial, capacity, quality system, technical capability and social compliance, executed on site in Thailand with photo and document evidence. Findings, certifications and corrective actions sit in your dashboard, and every order is inspected by a licensed engineer before shipping. See the factory audit service.
FAQ
Can the same audit checklist be used for a metal shop and a food plant?
The governance blocks are the same: legal status, capacity, quality system, social compliance and export readiness. The technical block must differ, because dimensional control records and GMP batch records prove entirely different things. Keep one framework and swap the technical evidence.
How often should a qualified Thai supplier be re-audited?
Annually for core categories, or immediately after a major change such as new ownership, a plant move, a new production line or a serious quality escape. Secondary suppliers can run on a two-year cycle with order-level inspection in between.
Is a virtual audit good enough?
It is useful for early screening and for verifying documents, and it can rule out weak candidates cheaply. Before committing tooling or a core category, an on-site visit is still needed to see equipment condition, actual workload and working conditions.
Does a passing audit mean my shipments will be good?
No. An audit assesses capability at a point in time. Lot quality depends on the specific run, so pre-shipment inspection against a signed golden sample remains necessary for every order.