Our 10-Point Factory Audit Checklist: How An Supply Filters the “Best” from the “Rest”

In Vietnam, anyone can rent a warehouse, put up a sign, and call themselves a “Factory.” For international buyers sitting thousands of miles away, distinguishing between a world-class facility and a hygiene disaster is nearly impossible via Zoom calls.

That is why An Supply exists. We are your boots on the ground.

We do not simply add suppliers to our network; we interrogate them. Before we let a partner pack a single carton for you, they must survive our rigorous 10-Point Audit Checklist. We reject roughly 70% of facilities we visit.

Here is the exact criteria we use to protect your brand.

— PILLAR 1: INFRASTRUCTURE & HYGIENE —

1. The “Red Line” Zoning (Cross-Contamination Control)

• The Check: Is there a physical wall or strict separation between the Raw Material Area (Dirty Zone) and the Packaging Area (Clean Zone)?
• The Deal-Breaker: If we see workers walking from the shelling area directly into the packing room without changing footwear/uniforms, we walk away immediately. Pathogens travel on shoes.

2. Pest Control & “The Map”

• The Check: We don’t just look for rats; we look for the system. Is there a Bait Station Map? Are the traps monitored weekly? Are windows netted against insects?
• The Deal-Breaker: Rodent droppings anywhere in the warehouse or open gaps under the doors.

3. Equipment Maintenance & Sanitation

• The Check: We inspect the machinery (Roasters, Peeling machines). Are food-contact surfaces Stainless Steel (SS304)? Is there rust or flaking paint?
• The Deal-Breaker: Grease or oil leaking from motors onto the conveyor belts.

— PILLAR 2: PROCESS CONTROL (QC) —

4. Foreign Matter Defense (CCP – Critical Control Points)

• The Check: We test their defense systems. We bring test pieces (Ferrous 1.5mm, Non-Ferrous 2.0mm, SS 2.5mm) and run them through their Metal Detectors and X-Ray machines.
• The Deal-Breaker: Machines that are turned off to save electricity, or machines that fail to reject the test pieces.

5. Traceability (The “Mock Recall”)

• The Check: We pick a random finished box and ask: “Show me exactly which farm or farmer group this batch came from, and on what date.”
• The Deal-Breaker: “Missing” records or a delay of more than 4 hours to retrieve the data. Speed is life during a real recall.

6. In-House Lab Capability

• The Check: Do they have basic equipment to test Moisture and Breakage on-site? Or do they just “guess” and wait for the port inspection?
• The Deal-Breaker: Lack of calibrated moisture meters. Moisture is the #1 cause of cargo claims.

— PILLAR 3: SOCIAL & ETHICAL COMPLIANCE —

7. Child Labor (Zero Tolerance)

• The Check: We physically walk the floor and check ID cards of young-looking workers. We cross-reference personnel files.
• The Deal-Breaker: Any worker under the legal working age (15 or 18 depending on the task). This is an instant disqualification and blacklist.

8. Worker Safety (PPE)

• The Check: Are workers handling hot cashews wearing heat-resistant gloves? Are masks worn in dusty areas? Are fire exits unlocked and unblocked?
• The Deal-Breaker: Workers touching ready-to-eat kernels with bare hands.

9. Capacity Verification vs. Outsourcing

• The Check: We calculate their machine speed vs. their claimed output. If they claim 50 containers/month but their machines can only do 10, they are secretly outsourcing.
• The Deal-Breaker: Evidence of unauthorized sub-contracting to unverified backyard workshops.

10. Waste Management & Environment

• The Check: How do they dispose of Cashew Shell Liquid (CNSL) or wastewater?
• The Deal-Breaker: Illegal dumping into local waterways. An Supply partners must be sustainable.

Conclusion

Our checklist is ruthless because the market is ruthless.

By filtering out the risks at the source, An Supply delivers not just agricultural products, but Commercial Safety.

Don’t gamble on a random factory. Source through a verified network.