Factory
Audits
A typical audit will consist of an initial meeting, an examination of the physical conditions, and then a detailed look at the paperwork and records. This is followed by a conversation with the owner or manager of the factory, and finally a discussion with a number of randomly chosen workers in order to get an overall picture of the conditions at the factory.
In BESTSELLER auditing is not only a matter of control, but also a way of getting closer to our suppliers. It is our belief that by establishing close relationships, we will get the best results. We have our own internal auditors, but as a supplement we also use external auditing companies.
We conduct both announced and unannounced audits. However, BESTSELLER conducts more announced audits than unannounced. The reason for this is that by announcing an audit we can make sure that the management and all relevant employees will be present at the factory during the audit. We mainly use the unannounced audits to follow up on previously identified problems.
A full report detailing all aspects of the structure and organisation in the factory is sent to BESTSELLER´s head office. A development plan with regular deadlines is made between the auditor and the factory owner based on the findings. The supplier needs to follow this development plan in order to be able to continue the cooperation with BESTSELLER. We believe that as long as a supplier displays improvement and is willing to have a good communication with us on these matters, we can continue working with factories that are not complying entirely with our standards, and work hard to improve the conditions over time.