Audit Process
Auditing is a tool we use to monitor supplier factory compliance with Wal-Mart's Standards for Suppliers, our code of conduct. Audit teams generally consist of two individuals. With two individuals' combined time, approximately 16 hours is spent auditing each factory. The teams follow a specific procedure in the factories called the audit process.
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Opening Meeting We begin each audit by introducing ourselves to the factory's managers, explaining the audit process, and presenting Wal-Mart's Gifts and Gratuities Policy that forbids any offer or receipt of gifts or bribes by the factory or the auditor. |
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Factory Walkthrough After the opening meeting, we walk through the factory – we examine the production machinery, fire safety equipment, evacuation plans, etc. All observed violations of Wal-Mart's Standards for Suppliers are recorded. |
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Documentation Review We review a sample of payroll records, time cards, and personnel files, among other documentation. |
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Worker Interviews Hearing from the workers themselves allows us to learn more about how the factory operates on a daily basis. We meet with workers in a meeting room without the presence of factory management and we ask about factory processes and working conditions. |
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Closing Meeting At the end of the audit, we meet with the factory managers to share our findings, provide suggestions for improvement, and inform them that the auditors will return to review the factory's progress. |
