Smart Sourcing
The 12-point factory audit checklist every overseas buyer needs
What boots-on-the-ground auditors verify before you sign a PO—and why marketplace profiles are not enough.
Overseas buyers lose months—and sometimes entire product lines—when a “factory” turns out to be a trading desk or a facility that cannot hit quoted MOQs. Tendlyn’s on-site audits follow a 12-point checklist before any PO is signed.
What we verify on the ground
- Business registration — legal entity matches export documentation.
- Production capacity — line count, shifts, and realistic throughput vs. your volume.
- Equipment inventory — machines match the SKU category you are buying.
- QC station — incoming, in-process, and outbound checkpoints exist and are staffed.
- Sample room — retained units and revision history for traceability.
- Export history — reference buyers and destination markets, not just screenshots.
- Certification wall — CE, RoHS, ISO, or category-specific certs with valid dates.
- Sub-supplier map — who actually makes critical components.
- Labor & ethics snapshot — basic social compliance signals for brand risk.
- Financial stability — red flags that predict mid-production ghosting.
- Communication layer — English-capable engineering contact, not just sales chat.
- Pilot readiness — sample lead time, tooling deposits, and revision policy in writing.
Why this matters for D2C brands
When you dropship blind, you inherit every factory lie your supplier never corrected. An independent audit gives you negotiation leverage, realistic lead times, and a paper trail if disputes arise.
