Internal audit refers to a "First-party Audit", arranged by the company itself. Audit Internal audit is an independent audit system performed by 1st party, a dedicated internal Auditor does an audit to check, verify and report to his company. Internal audit is an opportunity for an organization to remove its weakness, problems before 3rd party or customer Audit.
ISO requirements are having an internal Auditor who is will have full authority to perform audits periodically.
Types of internal audit in garments in Garments industry:
1. Internal QMS Audit for Technical and Quality
2. Internal Audit of Compliance
3. Internal audit of Finance
4. Internal audit of ISO
1. QMS (Technical and Quality) Audit Checklist of the Apparel industry
Fabric Inspection, Inventory, GSM, Shade Band, Fabric Relax & Fabric Width Check.
1. Has the Fabric Inspection Procedure and responsible persons Job description posted in place ?2. Does fabric inspection do within 72 hours after inventory?
3. Is the 4 Point system maintained with documentation?
4. Are Fabric invoices, Detailed Packing List, Approved Fabric swatch in place?
5. Does the Fabric inspection report have necessary information such as Date, Inspector Name, Findings, Accepted Criteria, etc?
6. Is the sample of various types of defects displayed in the Fabric Inspection Area?
3. Is the 4 Point system maintained with documentation?
4. Are Fabric invoices, Detailed Packing List, Approved Fabric swatch in place?
5. Does the Fabric inspection report have necessary information such as Date, Inspector Name, Findings, Accepted Criteria, etc?
6. Is the sample of various types of defects displayed in the Fabric Inspection Area?
7. Does Factory have the Practice to keep the goods according to the Process such as Quarantine Zone, Yellow Zone or Waiting for Inspection, Green Zone or Pass Goods?
8. Does Factory have the Practice to keep the Goods with proper identification and there is separation shade wise and supplier wise it any item has taken from the different supplier?
9. Have Fabrics kept shade wise as per Shade Band and bin card match with a list?
10. Does Factory have the practice to collect and maintain the GSM record?
11. Has the Fabric width of each roll been checked and written at the end of fabric?
12. Has Factory had the practice to keep the Fabric in the store widthwise?
13. Does Factory have the Fabric Relax, Cutting & Spreading Record with documentation?
14. Is there an inventory control system with incoming/outgoing materials monitored and documented (location, quantity, etc.)?
Trims Inspection, Brand Label & Inventory
1. Has the trims & accessories Inspection Procedure and responsible persons Job description posted in place?
2. Do trims inspections do within 72 hours after inventory?
3. Is Inspection following the AQL 2.5 standard?
4. Does Factory have Approved BOM, Packing List, Approved Trim Card in place?
5. Do trims & accessories inspection reports have necessary information such as Date, Inspector Name, Findings, Accepted Criteria, etc.?
6. Does Factory have the Practice to keep the goods according to the Process such as Quarantine Zone, Yellow Zone or Waiting for Inspection, Green Zone or Pass Goods?
7. Does Factory have the Practice to keep the Goods with proper identification and there is separation buyer-wise it any item has been taken from the different suppliers?
8. Does the Factory have the secured box with identification to keep the Private Brand or another label?
9. Does Factory have the proper records for Issues and stock etc. based on the requisition?
Shrinkage Test
1. Does the Record of the actual shrinkage of the swatches represent the roll numbers?
2. Does the Shrinkage report has been signed by QAM, Pattern Master, Store Manager?
In house Nickel Test & Pull Test
1. Are the Inspection report of the nickel test is in place with marking whether it passed or failed ?2. Has Cotton Swab (buds) been attached to the report?
1. Does the Record of the actual shrinkage of the swatches represent the roll numbers?
2. Does the Shrinkage report has been signed by QAM, Pattern Master, Store Manager?
In house Nickel Test & Pull Test
1. Are the Inspection report of the nickel test is in place with marking whether it passed or failed ?2. Has Cotton Swab (buds) been attached to the report?
3. Does Factory use to do a Pull test with proper documentation?
Broken Needle
1. Does document Broken Needle Procedure, Record of Stock, and disposal maintained as per the Customer requirements and Factory SOP?
2. Is there a broken needle control process in place with records available on the production floor?3. Does the Broken Needle process include mechanic interaction?
4. Is there a needle log maintained by the machine/operator?
1. Does document Broken Needle Procedure, Record of Stock, and disposal maintained as per the Customer requirements and Factory SOP?
2. Is there a broken needle control process in place with records available on the production floor?3. Does the Broken Needle process include mechanic interaction?
4. Is there a needle log maintained by the machine/operator?
Non-Conforming Materials / Products
1. Does Factory personal have knowledge about Control of Non-confirming Material or Products?
2. Has Factory Management given the authorization to the employee to identify Non-confirming Materials/Products in all stages?
3. Does Factory arrange Non conforming materials box in each place to keep and collect the Non-confirming Materials/Products?
4. Does Factory have the Proper documentation for the Non-confirming Materials/Products such as Quantity, Type of NCM, Source, Reasons of NCM, Disposition, CAPA if required?
5. Do NCM Materials/Products have kill garments tags?
6. Does Factory have the MRB to review the NCM before disposition?
7. Does the Disposal procedure of NCM have present in the Central Non-confirming Materials/Products?
8. Are Tools Calibration and servicing procedure, skill test, training calendar documented?
1. Does Factory personal have knowledge about Control of Non-confirming Material or Products?
2. Has Factory Management given the authorization to the employee to identify Non-confirming Materials/Products in all stages?
3. Does Factory arrange Non conforming materials box in each place to keep and collect the Non-confirming Materials/Products?
4. Does Factory have the Proper documentation for the Non-confirming Materials/Products such as Quantity, Type of NCM, Source, Reasons of NCM, Disposition, CAPA if required?
5. Do NCM Materials/Products have kill garments tags?
6. Does Factory have the MRB to review the NCM before disposition?
7. Does the Disposal procedure of NCM have present in the Central Non-confirming Materials/Products?
8. Are Tools Calibration and servicing procedure, skill test, training calendar documented?
PP Meeting (Internal/Buyer)
1. Does the factory have an internal documented pre-production process?
2. Are both production and factory QC represented at the pre-production meeting?
3. Are product specifications and approval samples reviewed prior to production or at the pre-production meeting and are this documented in the meeting notes?
4. Our product test requirements and results were reviewed prior to production or at the pre-production meeting and is this documented in the meeting notes?
5. Are critical quality or inspection checks reviewed, identified, and documented prior to production or at the pre-production meeting?
6. Are Pre-production meeting notes/issues along with Sample comments communicated to the line supervisors?
7. Has the Before and After wash measurement report been done and compared to adjust the pattern to avoid issues during production?
8. Does the PPM do in an approved format by the Management?
Product Test Plan
- Does PTP use to do on the Management approved format?
- Do All activities with Criteria, Tolerance, Frequency, etc mentioned in PTP have been done and the report signed?
Quality Meeting
- Are weekly documented, ongoing Quality Control (QC) meetings held at the factory during production?
- Are quality records reviewed at the weekly QC meetings?
- Are Production and other related persons represented at the weekly QC meetings?
- Are corrective action plans developed and documented based on the results of the weekly QC meetings?
- Does the Meeting has been done with the prescribed format and discussed accordingly?
Pilot Cut & First Production Analysis
- Does Approval given by prescribed format?
- Does All relevant person review and sign?
- Does a documented process exist for the factory QC to compare the first production units produced to the client approval sample and specifications?
- Does the Before and After the wash measurement report has been attached?
Fusing Inspection
- Does fusing test report approved by the Merchandiser/QA Department
- Does Fusing test report along with fusing samples?
- Does Factory have a Fusing machine calibration record?
Sub Contract (Printing Inspection, Embroidery Inspection, Washing)
- Is the product properly packaged for transport to and from the subcontractor?
- Is the product inventoried and reconciled when returned from the subcontractor?
- Is the product received from the subcontractor inspected and is it documented?
- Does Factory have any identification for trace and to avoid any unexpected Quality matters?
- Does Factory have a practice of Audit/Evaluation to select the Subcontract with defined criteria such as On-time Delivery, Quality, Pricing, etc.?
Production Control
- Is Factory maintaining the Cutting Issues register?
- Does Factory have the cut panels record as per ratio?
- Does Mockup contain required instruction with a visual display for an operator?
- Are Factory have the requisition for Label & Other label receive?
- Are sewing supervisors collecting the Care Label & others Label extra-label if the sewing is completed as per requirement?
- Are sewing supervisors collecting the Care Label & other Label extra-label as well as other accessories if the sewing is completed as per requirement?
- Is Factory doing Production Plan, Sewing Record in a proper way with documentation?
- Does sewing use to maintain the Bundle as per Company or Factory require to avoid any unexpected Quality Matters as well as properly utilized of the Materials?
- Does a documented process exist for operators to identify and flag defective goods on the line?
- The factory has the practice to maintain the Bundle System which was used to send for washing and revised accordingly and inventory did as per the identification?
- all the Patterns/sketch/Markers have authorized signatures with the approval of the related responsible person?
- there identification on sketches and patterns for all the styles?
- Are there proper identifications on Paper Pattern including PO#, Style#, Color, Ratio, Marker Name
- report maintained or not?
Quality Management System
- Does the factory use defect samples in the production area to show examples of common defects?
- Are DCL's (Defect Classification List) or similar being used?
- Are defects identified and recorded by operation, operator and machine?
- Does Factory have the Inline Inspection with proper documentations and defects recorded with code?
- Does Factory have the system to check the Products 100% after complete all the processes at the end of the sewing line and defects recorded with code?
- Does the factory QC Team have the authority to stop production for bad quality?
- Is Finishing have all the receiving documents for all the accessories as well as Private Brand Finishing Accessories?
- Does Factory have a process to check Shade and hand feel & segregation accordingly with documentation?
- Does the factory perform Inspections to a standard AQL or acceptable statistical quality level?
- The factory used to do Lot Audit based on AQL which passed by the Sewing Line Finished Inspectors?
- the internal FRI includes inspecting packaging and cartons?
- The factory has a process inside and outside once received the Products from the Washing Plant?
- Final Audit(lot Audit) used to conduct before delivering the Products to the Finishing for Packing/Folding as per AQL?
- The factory has a process of Corrective Action/Preventive Action if Products not meet the Customer requirements on Quality, Safety or Legality issues with proper documentation?
- the CAPA procedure maintained in all the stages from raw materials to finished products?
- quality master file in place with all the documents such as PO Sheet, Spec, BOM, Test Report, PPM documents, etc.?
Metal Detector
- Does the factory have metal detection equipment?
- Is conveyor metal detection equipment, placed so that all product must pass through, being used for soft home/soft lines products?
- Are there documented calibration checks done to the metal detection device ( 9 point system check) a minimum of three times per shift?
- Is there a documented process for all rejected products that pass through metal detection with records to support?
- Are the Calibration Procedure, Goods Passing Record and Disposal record maintaining perfectly?
Document Retention Period
Does the documented retention period has been described and maintained?
SOP or Procedures
- Does Factory have an SOP or Procedures for Quality and Production including all the activities which used to do in the Factory?
- Does Factory Personal have proper training on Job Description and responsibilities to do their job properly?
- Does SOP and Job description use to post in each area with a flow chart?
Training
- Does Factory have a Training Program for all the employees Scheduled, Random or 3rd Party Training?
- Does Factory have Training Coordinating Team along with the Training Coordinator to review the Training?
- Does Factory have Training Room along with all the Training Materials such as Machines, Tools, Defective Samples, etc?
- Does Factory have a process to train the employee who is weak in their job or working area?
Management Review Meeting
- Does Factory organize a Management Committee to monitor the total Factory process?
- Does Factory have the practice to conduct the Meeting with all the Factory responsible persons to make a decision on suffering or discuss the Customer findings Customer complaints or recall, advice, etc?
- Does Factory have the log of Customer complaints, Product Recalls, or CAPA to discuss in the Management review meeting?
- Does Management organize a team for the Technical Audit team to review all the Quality and Production processes and implement the process accordingly?
- Does Factory have a defined Checklist to review the Factory Quality and Production process?
- Does CAP, CNCM, Factory Quality standards used to be discussed in the Management review meeting to take the initiatives?
Machine Maintenance & Calibration
- Does the factory employ people dedicated to only maintaining equipment?
- Are machines, equipment, fixtures and tools suitable to produce clients product?
- Does Factory have Master Machines and Tools list with Calibration status?
- Does Factory establish all the Machines Operating procedures in place to operate the Machine properly and right way?
- Does Factory have daily and scheduled servicing Maintenace with proper documentation?
- Does Factory have a Light Box with proper Calibration?
- Does Factory have Fabric Inspection Frame with proper backlight?
- Question on Machine Maintenance and Tools Calibration and servicing procedure and calendar including measurement tape to Lightbox
Supplier Management
- Does the factory have a documented process to make sure that incoming raw materials, components, and/or sub-assemblies conform to specifications, quality standards, and US Safety requirements?
- Does the factory document and track their supplier reliability (performance)?
- Are raw materials stored in a controlled area to avoid theft, loss, damage, deterioration?
- Does Factory have a Supplier evaluation procedure with defined criteria with results?
- Does Factory have approved supplier list category wise?
- Does the factory have a bar code scanner for trims and have records of scanning?
Site Conditions
- Does the Factory have sufficient lighting as per Customer requirements in all the areas such as a store, each Inspection area, Finishing area, etc?
- Does the factory document and track their supplier reliability (performance)?
- Are all raw materials organized properly in each area with proper documentation and have no backlog in the process?
Traceability & Identification and Quality Goal
- Is there any system of traceability and identification and maintain the SOP accordingly?
- Does the factory have the test of traceability and identification?
- Do Quality Gaol Posted and actual defect rates have posted end of the Line?
- Do Factory employees understand the Quality Goal?
2. Internal Audit of Compliance
Please read here the internal compliance Audit checklist