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Perform SMETA 7.0 2-Pillar Audit using eAuditor

SMETA 7.0 2-Pillar Audit is an ethical trade assessment by Sedex focusing on Labour Standards and Environmental practices. It evaluates worker rights, health and safety, and environmental management to ensure compliance with international standards. The audit helps companies verify ethical sourcing, improve transparency, and manage supply chain risks effectively.

Performing a SMETA 7.0 2-Pillar Audit using eAuditor enables companies to systematically assess labor standards and environmental practices within their supply chains, ensuring adherence to ethical trade principles and regulatory requirements. This approach leverages the power of digital inspection technology to create a consistent, efficient, and transparent audit process.

1. Preparation Phase: Planning and Setup

2. Define Audit Scope and Objectives

Before the audit, clearly define the scope by selecting the facilities, suppliers, or sites to be audited. This involves understanding the business context, industry risks, and compliance expectations under SMETA 7.0. Emphasis is placed on the two pillars: Labour Standards (worker rights, health & safety, fair wages, working hours, and ethical treatment) and Environment (resource use, waste management, emissions control, and sustainability initiatives).

7. Develop or Customize a Detailed SMETA 7.0 2-Pillar Checklist

Using eAuditor’s checklist builder, create a comprehensive audit template reflecting SMETA 7.0 requirements. This checklist should include:

• Labour Standards Section: Worker contracts, wages and benefits, working hours, child and forced labor prevention, health and safety practices, grievance procedures, disciplinary practices, freedom of association, and equal opportunity.
• Environment Section: Waste disposal methods, energy consumption and efficiency, emissions and pollution controls, water usage, chemical handling, and environmental management policies.
• Supporting Evidence: Document review prompts (payroll, policies, permits), interview questions for workers and management, and areas for physical site inspections.

Include conditional logic to ensure relevant questions appear based on audit findings or specific facility characteristics.

1. Scheduling and Auditor Assignment

Use eAuditor’s scheduling tools to plan audits according to risk assessments or contract requirements. Assign qualified auditors with relevant expertise and ensure they are trained on SMETA 7.0 protocols and how to use eAuditor’s mobile app.

2. Execution Phase: Conducting the Audit

3. Conduct Thorough On-Site Inspections

Auditors use the eAuditor mobile app to systematically evaluate the physical workplace, verifying conditions against SMETA labor and environmental criteria. This includes:

• Workplace Safety: Inspect fire safety measures, emergency exits, PPE availability, machinery safeguards, and sanitation facilities.
• Worker Interviews: Perform confidential interviews with a representative sample of employees to understand working conditions, treatment, and awareness of policies.
• Document Review: Examine payroll records, employment contracts, health & safety policies, environmental permits, and training records directly on-site.

1. Capture and Document Findings in Real-Time

All observations, evidence, and interview responses are recorded on eAuditor with notes, photos, and scanned documents attached. Non-compliances are clearly documented, and severity levels are assigned based on impact and risk. This ensures accuracy and completeness of the audit record.

3. Reporting Phase: Generating and Sharing Audit Results

4. Create Comprehensive Audit Reports Automatically

Upon completion, eAuditor compiles data into a structured, professional SMETA 7.0 2-Pillar Audit report, including:

• Executive summaries of compliance status and key findings
• Detailed observations categorized by pillar and audit section
• Photographic evidence and direct auditor commentary
• Identified non-conformities with severity ratings and suggested corrective actions
• Auditor and auditee signatures to confirm authenticity

1. Distribute and Archive Reports Securely

Reports can be shared instantly with stakeholders, uploaded to platforms like Sedex, or stored in eAuditor’s cloud database for easy retrieval. This supports transparency, accountability, and supplier performance tracking.

4. Follow-Up and Continuous Improvement

5. Assign and Track Corrective Actions

Non-compliances trigger automated corrective action workflows within eAuditor. Tasks are assigned to responsible parties with deadlines and priority levels. Auditors and managers monitor progress through dashboards and receive automatic reminders.

1. Plan Re-Audits and Monitor Trends

Schedule follow-up audits or spot checks to verify remediation. Use eAuditor’s analytics tools to identify common risk areas, measure supplier improvements, and generate management reports to support decision-making and continuous ethical compliance.

Summary

Using eAuditor for SMETA 7.0 2-Pillar Audits transforms labor and environmental compliance checks into a streamlined, digital workflow that enhances accuracy, accountability, and efficiency. The platform’s customizable checklists, real-time data capture, automated reporting, and task tracking empower organizations to uphold ethical trade standards, reduce supply chain risks, and foster sustainable business practices aligned with international guidelines.

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