Supplier audits in China: ISO 9001 and IATF 16949
A certificate on a website proves that a system was documented once. An audit proves what the plant can actually do this month, on your part, at your volume. We audit plants, products and processes against ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 — and we tell you what we saw.
Why an audit is cheaper than a bad first order
The expensive mistakes are rarely visible in a quotation: a workshop that subcontracts the heat treatment, a quality manager who keeps the control plan in a drawer, a capacity that disappears when a bigger customer arrives.
An audit answers three questions with evidence: can this plant make my part, can it make it every month, and who is accountable when it does not.
- Legal existence, ownership and site consistency
- Equipment list against the process route
- Quality system: control plan, PFMEA, calibration, traceability
- Incoming, in-process and final inspection records
- Capacity and load versus your volumes
- Subcontracting and critical supplier control
- Non-conformity handling and corrective actions
Types of audit we run
Scope agreed before the visit, report within days of the site walk.
Plant audit
Site, layout, equipment, manpower, maintenance, safety and environmental basics — the ground truth behind the brochure.
Book a plant auditProcess audit
One process line followed from raw material to packing: parameters, records, competence, reaction to non-conformity.
Audit a processProduct audit
Finished parts measured against drawing and specification, with dimensional report and functional checks.
Quality inspectionsSystem audit
ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 documentation versus practice — useful before a customer or certification audit.
CertificationsThird-party verification with TTR Institute
When a customer, an insurer or a customs authority needs independent evidence, we run the inspection with TTR Institute in Milan: the audit is executed by our engineers in China and verified by a European body, so the report travels.
This matters for product certification and for markets where a self-declared report is not accepted.
Red flags we find most often
| Signal | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Certificate shown, scope not covering the product | The system is certified for another family; your part is outside the scope. |
| No calibration records for measuring equipment | Dimensions are checked with instruments of unknown accuracy. |
| Subcontracting not declared | You are buying from a plant that does not control its own process. |
| Capacity quoted without load data | Your volumes compete with customers you cannot see. |
| Corrective actions without root cause | The same defect returns in the third shipment. |
How the report is written
Each finding is classified: critical (blocks the order), major (must be corrected before series production), minor (monitor). Every line has a photo, a document reference or a measurement — no adjectives.
The report is written for a technical reader in Europe who has never been to the plant, and it is usable as an annex to your purchase order.
Questions about audits
Do you audit suppliers we have already chosen?
Yes, and it is the most common request. The audit either confirms the choice with evidence or shows what must be corrected before the first order — both outcomes are useful.
How long does an audit take?
One day on site for a focused process audit, two to three days for a full plant and system audit, plus preparation and reporting. Travel time inside China is quoted separately.
Can the audit be done remotely?
Partially: document review and a live video walk are possible. The physical checks — measurements, calibration, material certificates — need someone on site. See our Alter-Ego service for the remote option.
Do you audit against customer-specific requirements?
Yes, when the customer standard is provided: automotive CSR, pressure equipment, food contact, or your own supplier manual.
What if the supplier refuses the audit?
That is an answer in itself. Suppliers who refuse a structured visit rarely improve after the order.
Related services
Audit a supplier before you sign.
Describe your product, your volumes and where you produce today. We reply within 24 hours.
Request a free feasibility review+86 1881 5299 660
宁波贝琳达进出口有限公司
Room 426, Building 3, No. 2 XinJian Road, Beilun District, Ningbo, Zhejiang