Factory Audit Checklist for Importers & Amazon Sellers

A factory audit answers a different question than a pre-shipment inspection (PSI): not “are these finished units OK to ship?” but “is this supplier structurally capable and honest enough for the orders I plan to place?” CloudSpects works with US, EU, UK, and Australia buyers sourcing from China; this checklist reflects what experienced auditors look for on a typical manufacturing audit day.

1. Identity, scope, and documentation

• Business license, export credentials (if claimed), and consistency between legal name, bank details, and invoices.
• Who owns the building versus who leases—subcontracting surprises often start here.
• Written scope for your audit (lines, processes, certifications you care about) so findings map to your risk, not a generic template.

2. Production capacity vs. your roadmap

Walk the line with output assumptions: equipment utilization, bottleneck processes, shift patterns, and how they schedule when multiple clients peak at the same time. If you are an Amazon FBA seller planning recurring POs, mismatch between “promised capacity” and observed floor reality is one of the fastest ways to get late air-freight, split shipments, or silent subcontracting.

3. Incoming quality, in-process control, and final checks

• Incoming material inspection records and how they reject non-conforming lots.
• In-process checkpoints (especially for electronics, textiles, or toys where early defects cascade).
• Final random inspection discipline and linkage to packing lists—this should align with how you will later book PSI before export.

4. Measurement equipment and calibration

For hardlines and precision parts, ask for calibration certificates and spot-check whether gauges in use match the tolerances on your drawings. Missing or expired calibration is a common “yellow flag” that does not show up on a polished brochure.

5. Traceability, rework, and segregation

Can they show lot traceability from raw material to finished carton? How do they segregate rework, returns, and customer-specific labeling (critical for marketplace compliance)? Weak segregation is a recurring root cause of label mix-ups and wrong-SKU shipments.

6. Social, safety, and environmental basics

Even if you are not auditing to a full social compliance scheme, obvious safety issues or underage labor risk can become a serious brand and account liability. Note conditions photographically and compare against your customer’s code of conduct if you have one.

7. How this ties to CloudSpects services

Audits inform who to trust; PSI/DPI and loading supervision protect what actually ships each time. Many CloudSpects clients combine an initial factory intel audit with recurring PSI before high-value FBA replenishment. Contact us with your product category and destination market—we will recommend a proportionate scope.