--- title: How to plan and run supplier audits | FactoryQA description: How to choose which suppliers to audit, prepare a risk-weighted checklist, score findings consistently and turn every finding into a tracked corrective action. image: https://factoryqa.com/hubfs/fqa-og-res-supplier-audit-guide.png --- [![FactoryQA](https://factoryqa.com/hubfs/fqa-logo-white.png)](https://factoryqa.com/) Features [**Platform overview**Every module, and how they connect](https://factoryqa.com/feature-overview)[**AI features**Purpose-built AI in every module](https://factoryqa.com/ai-powered-quality-management)[**Integrations**ERP connectors and imports](https://factoryqa.com/integrations) [**Dashboard**Every module in one scorecard](https://factoryqa.com/products/qualitybi-dashboard)[**Tasks**Every to-do, from every module](https://factoryqa.com/products/task-management)[**Compliance**Readiness for your standard](https://factoryqa.com/products/compliance)[**Quality Plans**Ballooning, PFMEA, control plans, PPAP](https://factoryqa.com/products/quality-plans)[**Documents**Revisions, approvals, sign-offs](https://factoryqa.com/products/document-control)[**Issues**NCRs, CAPAs and SCARs](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)[**Inspection**Sheets, first articles and SPC](https://factoryqa.com/products/inspection-sheets)[**Calibration**Gages, due dates and Gage R&R](https://factoryqa.com/products/calibration-management)[**Preventive Maintenance**Scheduled work orders and repairs](https://factoryqa.com/preventive-maintenance-factoryqa)[**Supplier Quality**Approved suppliers, portal and SCARs](https://factoryqa.com/products/supplier-management)[**Audits**Schedules, checklists and findings](https://factoryqa.com/products/audit-management)[**Learning Management**Courses, quizzes and the training matrix](https://factoryqa.com/products/learning-management-system)[**QMS Generator**Your manual from an interview](https://factoryqa.com/products/qms-generator) Services [**Services overview**Certification, consulting and supplier quality](https://factoryqa.com/services)[**Get Certified**Three paths to AS9100, ISO 9001 or ISO 13485: do it yourself, join a workshop, or work 1-1 with a consultant.](https://factoryqa.com/certification-services)[**Certification Workshops**A 9-week, small-group program with 18 expert-led sessions and an AI-built document kit.](https://factoryqa.com/certification-cohorts)[**QMS Consulting**A consultant on your team from training through implementation, internal audit and the registrar audit.](https://factoryqa.com/qms-consulting)[**Supplier Quality Services**Qualification, management, training and security services for your whole supply base.](https://factoryqa.com/supplier-quality-services) [Pricing](https://factoryqa.com/pricing) [Log in](https://app.factoryqa.com/auth/login)[Book a demo](https://factoryqa.com/get-a-demo)[Start free](https://app.factoryqa.com/auth/register) Features[**Platform overview**](https://factoryqa.com/feature-overview)[AI features](https://factoryqa.com/ai-powered-quality-management)[Integrations](https://factoryqa.com/integrations)[Dashboard](https://factoryqa.com/products/qualitybi-dashboard)[Tasks](https://factoryqa.com/products/task-management)[Compliance](https://factoryqa.com/products/compliance)[Quality Plans](https://factoryqa.com/products/quality-plans)[Documents](https://factoryqa.com/products/document-control)[Issues](https://factoryqa.com/products/non-conformance-management)[Inspection](https://factoryqa.com/products/inspection-sheets)[Calibration](https://factoryqa.com/products/calibration-management)[Preventive Maintenance](https://factoryqa.com/preventive-maintenance-factoryqa)[Supplier Quality](https://factoryqa.com/products/supplier-management)[Audits](https://factoryqa.com/products/audit-management)[Learning Management](https://factoryqa.com/products/learning-management-system)[QMS Generator](https://factoryqa.com/products/qms-generator) Services[**Services overview**](https://factoryqa.com/services)[Get Certified](https://factoryqa.com/certification-services)[Certification Workshops](https://factoryqa.com/certification-cohorts)[QMS Consulting](https://factoryqa.com/qms-consulting)[Supplier Quality Services](https://factoryqa.com/supplier-quality-services)More[**Pricing**](https://factoryqa.com/pricing)[Log in](https://app.factoryqa.com/auth/login)[Book a demo](https://factoryqa.com/get-a-demo) Supplier quality # How to plan and run supplier audits How to choose which suppliers to audit, prepare a risk-weighted checklist, score findings consistently and turn every finding into a tracked corrective action. FactoryQA quality teamOctober 25, 2026 A supplier audit checks, at the source, that a supplier's processes can keep meeting your requirements. Done well it prevents problems; done as a box-ticking visit it costs a day and finds nothing. The difference is mostly in the planning. *1***Plan**Risk-based programme *2***Prepare**History and checklist *3***Conduct**Walk the process *4***Score**Consistent grading *5***Closing meeting**Findings agreed *6***Act on findings**Owner and due date Next audit date set from the result ## Which suppliers to audit You cannot audit everyone every year, so let risk decide. Audit first the suppliers of critical or special-process parts, new suppliers before or soon after approval, suppliers with rising NCRs, late or weak SCAR responses or a falling scorecard, and suppliers whose self-assessment or certificates raise questions. Build these into an audit programme with a planned frequency for each supplier, and adjust it as their performance changes. ## Prepare - **Scope.** The processes and parts the audit covers, and the requirements it checks against: your purchase order and drawing requirements, their standard, your customer's flow-downs. - **History.** Their recent NCRs, SCARs, scorecard and last audit findings. Follow up on these first. - **A checklist.** Questions per process, each with the evidence you expect to see, weighted by risk so a calibration gap counts for more than a missing signature. ## On the day Walk the process your parts follow, from receiving to shipping, rather than reading procedures in a meeting room. Ask to see records for your parts: travelers, inspection results, calibration of the gages used, training of the people who made them. Record evidence for every answer, photos and document numbers included, so findings are hard to dispute. ## Score it consistently Grade each answer the same way every time, for example conforms, minor or major, and use a risk-weighted score so audits of different suppliers can be compared. Hold a closing meeting and agree the findings before you leave. ## Turn findings into action Every finding needs an owner, a due date and a corrective action you will verify. Feed the result into the supplier's status and scorecard, and set the next audit date from what you found. Audits in FactoryQA: scheduled, run on a tablet with evidence, findings turned into CARs. FactoryQA's [Audits](https://factoryqa.com/products/audit-management) module schedules internal and supplier audits on a calendar, runs them on a tablet with evidence on every answer and a risk-weighted score from 0 to 5, and gives each finding a CAR with a task for its owner. The AI Audit Checklist Creator drafts questions for your standard and clauses. Our [Supplier Quality Services](https://factoryqa.com/supplier-quality-services) include supplier audits when you need an experienced auditor. Keep reading ## More from Resources [Supplier quality**Counterfeit parts prevention for manufacturers**What AS9100D clause 8.1.4 asks for on counterfeit parts, and the sourcing, receiving, quarantine and training controls that keep suspect parts out.](https://factoryqa.com/resources/counterfeit-parts-prevention)[Supplier quality**Controlling outsourced special processes**How to control outsourced special processes such as heat treat, plating, welding and NDT: qualified sources, complete orders, evidence and supplier audits.](https://factoryqa.com/resources/controlling-special-processes)[Supplier quality**Supplier PPAP: how to request, review and approve**When to request a supplier PPAP, how to choose the submission level, what to check in each element, and the most common reasons PPAPs get rejected.](https://factoryqa.com/resources/supplier-ppap-guide) ## Try it on your own process: start free. 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