One of the key elements to Insite’s new approach is our portfolio of assessment and auditing services, which allow our clients to employ the most effective method or combination of methods for achieving their specific compliance objectives.
Both assessments and audits are conducted through a process designed to crosscheck all areas of focus. However, the methodology for performing assessments and audits differ, as does the reporting of findings. Assessments focus on identifying the reason for compliance gaps, whereas audits seek to verify compliance. Regardless of the methodology employed, both assessments and audits incorporate International Labor Organization (ILO) standards, United Nation conventions, regional laws and regulations, as well as information gathered from local NGOs. Areas of focus during the assessments and audits include but are not limited to: compensation, working hours, child labor, health and safety as well as any additional requirements of a client’s compliance program.
Our assessment and audit offerings include:
Pre-Assessments
Pre-assessments evaluate the compliance potential of a supplier prior to engaging in a long-term relationship, and are especially useful when going '"factory direct" to a new supplier. Providing a quick snapshot of the working conditions of the facility, focus is placed on key critical issues such as quality assurance procedures, health and safety conditions, child labor, and hiring policies. These are performed and charged as one man-day.
Assessments
Our compliance agents work directly with suppliers to promote transparency, encourage their ownership in the compliance process, and provide concrete tools for improvement. At the conclusion of the assessment, Insite issues a recommended course of action for narrowing the compliance gaps discovered during the factory visit with the focus placed on collaboration between Insite (on behalf of the company) and factory management, with worker involvement. These are performed and charged as two man days.
Audits
Audits can be very effective when it comes to verifying compliance and identifying non conformities against a specific code of conduct or local labor laws. During the audit process the Insite compliance agent will verify compliance according to local legal regulations and the compliance standards set forth by a your company, or Insite’s best practice approach. When issues of non-compliance are discovered the compliance agent will report on the context of the finding; for example: the severity, frequency, and/or location of the specific finding(s), and will provide recommended “corrective action” step(s). Audits are performed and charged as two man days.
Follow-Up Assessments
During a follow-up assessment, Insite compliance agents evaluate the progress of the supplier’s efforts to narrow the compliance gaps discovered during the initial assessment and determine what (if any) additional support is needed, and/or the most appropriate supplier initiative to implement. The duration of the follow-up assessment varies based on the determined next steps.
Follow-Up Audits
Follow-up audits focus on confirming that the implementation of an existing corrective action plan are being performed and are charged as one man-day.
Issue-Specific Audit
Issue-specific audits target particular issues, and allow for a more focused use of time and money. The decision to conduct an issue-specific audit may be based on known regional issues such as migrant workers, a trend of specific non-compliance findings of a given vendor, or a focused follow-up based on the findings of an initial assessment or audit. Issue-specific audits are performed and charged as one man-day.
C-TPAT Security Assessment
The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program (C-TPAT) is a voluntary, government based initiative that, through a series of guidelines and requirements, verify security levels throughout the supply chain. Our security assessment exceeds the requirements as stated in the C-TPAT initiative to ensure that best practices for security are maintained. Security assessments are charged as one manday or a half manday as part of a combination audit and security assessment. |
