Perform SMETA Audit using eAuditor
SMETA Audit stands for Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit. It is a widely used social auditing methodology designed to assess a company’s ethical and responsible business practices across its supply chain.
Performing a SMETA Audit using eAuditor involves a detailed, structured evaluation of a supplier or facility’s social, ethical, and environmental compliance aligned with global responsible sourcing standards. Using eAuditor’s digital platform enhances audit consistency, accuracy, and efficiency by centralizing data collection, real-time reporting, and corrective action tracking.
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Purpose of SMETA Audit
The SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) Audit is designed to:
- Assess supplier compliance with internationally recognized ethical trade principles.
- Evaluate working conditions, labor rights, health and safety practices, environmental stewardship, and business ethics.
- Identify non-compliance and potential risks that could affect worker welfare or company reputation.
- Support companies in managing responsible sourcing, meeting customer and regulatory expectations.
- Drive continuous improvement within supply chains by providing clear, actionable insights.
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Preparation and Setup in eAuditor
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Define Audit Scope and Objectives
- Select the audit site(s), such as manufacturing facilities, farms, or warehouses.
- Determine the pillars to audit: commonly 2-pillar (Labor Standards & Health and Safety) or 4-pillar (adding Environment & Business Ethics).
- Understand local laws, cultural considerations, and company-specific policies to tailor the audit focus.
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Customize or Utilize SMETA Templates
- Use or create an eAuditor template aligned with SMETA requirements.
- Include key audit areas such as:
- Labor Practices: Child labor, forced labor, discrimination, freedom of association, wages, working hours.
- Health & Safety: Facility conditions, machine safety, emergency preparedness, PPE availability.
- Environment: Waste management, emissions control, resource usage.
- Business Ethics: Anti-bribery, data privacy, and supplier conduct.
- Incorporate multiple question types: checklists, rating scales, photo attachments, and comment fields for comprehensive data capture.
III. Assign and Train Auditors
- Choose auditors experienced with SMETA and eAuditor.
- Provide training on audit objectives, interview techniques, and the use of the app.
- Schedule audits, ensuring access to all relevant personnel and areas.
- Conducting the SMETA Audit
- Opening Meeting
- Explain the audit scope and process to facility management.
- Gain cooperation and clarify expectations, confidentiality, and data usage.
- Documentation Review
- Examine company policies, contracts, payroll, safety records, training logs, and environmental reports.
- Check for alignment with local legislation and SMETA standards.
III. Worker Interviews
- Conduct confidential and anonymous interviews with a representative sample of workers.
- Collect feedback on working conditions, rights, grievances, and management relations.
- Use eAuditor’s mobile interface to record notes securely and efficiently.
- Site Inspection
- Physically inspect work areas, machinery, emergency exits, sanitation, and PPE compliance.
- Capture high-quality photos with annotations highlighting compliance or violations.
- Verify environmental practices like waste disposal, chemical storage, and energy usage.
- Management Discussions
- Engage with management to discuss findings, clarify procedures, and explore corrective action plans.
- Assess management commitment to ethical trade principles.
- Reporting and Follow-Up
- Automated Reporting
- eAuditor compiles audit data, photos, notes, and compliance ratings into a clear, professional SMETA audit report.
- The report highlights non-compliance areas, risk levels, and recommendations.
- Corrective Action Management
- Assign corrective actions within eAuditor, specifying responsible persons, deadlines, and priority.
- Track progress through status updates and reminders.
- Facilitate communication between auditors, suppliers, and clients regarding issue resolution.
III. Continuous Monitoring and Re-Audit
- Schedule follow-up audits or monitoring visits to verify corrective actions.
- Analyze audit trends using eAuditor’s analytics for long-term improvements.
- Use audit data to support supplier development programs and responsible sourcing initiatives.
Summary
Using eAuditor to perform SMETA Audits empowers organizations to conduct thorough, transparent evaluations of ethical, labor, health and safety, environmental, and business practices within their supply chains. The platform’s digital tools streamline data collection, enable confidential worker feedback, and simplify corrective action tracking, helping companies manage risk, enhance compliance, and foster sustainable, responsible sourcing relationships.