Factory Assessment Services

BUSINESS CHALLENGE
In today’s highly competitive consumer market, retailers and buyers need a vendor base that will partner with them to meet all aspects of production, from design and quality to product life cycle times and delivery requirements. However, how does a retailer or buyer effectively select new partners? Monitor the progress of existing vendors? And effectively work with vendors to keep the focus on quality over time?

SOLUTION
What is a factory assessment?
A factory assessment audits the production capability and performance of a factory against proven quality principles. As such, the key criteria assessed are policies, procedures and records that would indicate the factory’s ability to deliver consistent quality management over time, rather than at one given time or only for certain products. Core areas and processes addressed by a factory assessment include:
1. Quality Management System
2. Good Manufacturing Practice (Factory Environment Standards)
3. Product Control
4. Process Control
5. Personnel

What are the key benefits?
Our factory assessment services can help:
• Evaluate capabilities of potential new vendors as part of the selection process
• Identify key strengths and weaknesses of your existing vendor base to allow you to optimize your quality assurance spending
• Monitor and track progress over time to drive quality throughout the manufacturing process
• Provides data that may be used to determine the nature, extent, and timing of your other quality interactions

BUREAU VERITAS APPROACH
Our factory assessments are designed to help retailers and vendors work together and improve performance by providing detailed results that clearly indicate areas of strengths and opportunities. In today’s market, as retailers and buyers are looking to select successful new vendors, reduce the number of vendors to more manageable levels, and promote relationships that improve overall performance, our assessment services provide an effective and unique method to help select and enhance relationships. We offer: 

Best Practices Approach: Based on our experience in providing factory assessments for multiple US based and global retailers, we have developed a ‘best practices approach’ that can save you time and costs in creating and maintaining an effective factory assessment program.

Modular Approach: Our suite of modules allows Bureau Veritas to customize the factory assessment to your specific needs while maintaining the consistency that comes from detailed audit protocols. 

Experienced Auditors: Our auditors receive comprehensive training including interpretation, auditing techniques, report writing, audit planning, integrity and consistency. 

Strong Integrity & Ethics Program: With a reputation for strict ethical guidelines and well-trained auditors, we maintain an active and dynamic training and integrity program that is managed by a dedicated integrity team, in order to minimize the risks of corruption and to educate auditors, factories and clients regarding our integrity policies and expectations. 

WHY CHOOSE BUREAU VERITAS?
Experience & Efficiency:  We actively provide factory assessments to major US based and global retailers. Based on our experience, we offer you a “best practice” approach that leverages the knowledge of our team of experts. 

Global Resources:  With locations around the world, we can assess the factories of your vendors where needed. 

Technical Knowledge & Leadership:  Our auditors receive specialized training and use detailed protocols and operations to deliver a first rate service. All findings positive and negative are supported by documented objective evidence.

Enhanced Reporting Capabilities:  Our reporting system tracks results over time and between vendors, allowing you to monitor progress, identify vendors of preference and drive quality throughout the manufacturing process.

FAQ

What type of report will I receive after the factory assessment is completed?
You will receive a summary report and a score card report that will include both an overall score and rating per section, highlighting key strengths and areas needing improvement. Our objective is to provide measurable results to both vendors and retailers as they work together for shared success. 

Can the factory assessment be customized to my industry?
Yes, you can select from several industry specific tools that we have developed to provide a more valuable and relevant assessment. We have Capacity and Capability Modules available for:
• General Hardgoods
• Apparel
• Furniture
• Footwear
• Toys
• Home Textiles
• Electrical Products

Our Reasonable Testing Program and Hazard and Risk Assessment supplements help focus these modules for regulated or higher risk products.