AUDIT SERVICES

SGS has been performing social audits since 1996 and has more than 220 auditors with Social Accountability expertise in some 40 countries. We continue to manage global ‘Code of Conduct’ contracts for major international organisations due to our capability to work with other developing standards and programs.

SGS has an extensive network of local social systems auditors and for accreditation to ICTI (International Council of Toy Industries), FLA (Fair Labor Association) and WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production).  

SGS is the acknowledged leader in social auditing, both for certification audits and as a base standard for other programmes such as Business for Social Compliance Initiative, Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code and numerous retailer or brand specific programmes. We have performed audits for leading brands to their own corporate requirements as well as to 3rd party codes.

SGS has designed other audit approaches to review specific issues or deal with specific cases:

• Unannounced Audits
  SGS conducts unannounced or semi-announced audits (a 2-week window is notified to a factory but the exact date/time is unknown).  These provide useful back-up and due diligence as part of an overall programme but are not recommended as the sole exercise due to the high on-cost and potentially disruptive nature of such visits.
  
  
• Multi-stakeholder approaches
  SGS has experience working with a number of NGOs and specialist groups to deliver solution-based appraisals and continuous improvement audits.  The scope of these audits varies according to the underlying conditions in the countries concerned and the NGO selected to partner, but all focus on giving workers a greater voice during the audit.
  
  
• Continuous Improvement Audits
  For companies who wish to build a longer term improvement-based relationship with companies in their supply chain, SGS offers a special audit process which defocuses from compliance monitoring, looking rather at establishing an atmosphere of trust so as to obtain real information on which to build.
  
  

 SGS Accreditation for Social Standards
 Read our Audit process