Perform SMETA 7.0 Audit for 4-Pillar using eAuditor
SMETA 7.0 Audit for 4-Pillar, developed by Sedex, assesses a company’s ethical practices across Labour Standards, Environment, Business Ethics, and Supply Chain Management. It ensures compliance with labor laws, environmental sustainability, anti-corruption policies, and responsible sourcing, promoting transparency and risk management throughout the supply chain.
Performing a SMETA 7.0 Audit for 4-Pillar using eAuditor provides a robust, efficient, and transparent way to evaluate ethical business practices across labour, environmental, business ethics, and supply chain management pillars. Leveraging eAuditor’s digital platform enhances accuracy, streamlines data collection, and supports actionable insights, helping organizations meet international standards and stakeholder expectations.
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Preparation Phase: Comprehensive Planning and Setup
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Define Audit Scope and Objectives
Begin by clearly identifying the scope of the audit—this includes the facilities, suppliers, or business units to be assessed. The 4-Pillar approach means evaluating:
- Labour Standards: Working conditions, employee rights, health and safety, fair wages, and prevention of forced and child labor.
- Environment: Resource use, waste management, pollution control, energy efficiency, and environmental compliance.
- Business Ethics: Anti-corruption policies, fair competition, confidentiality, and transparent practices.
- Supply Chain Management: Responsible sourcing, supplier risk management, traceability, and compliance monitoring.
Understand the regulatory landscape, Sedex requirements, and client expectations to tailor the audit appropriately.
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Customize or Build SMETA 7.0 4-Pillar Checklist in eAuditor
Using eAuditor’s checklist builder, design a detailed and dynamic audit template:
- Include relevant questions for each pillar, covering policy review, site inspections, worker interviews, and document checks.
- Use conditional logic to adapt questions based on industry sector, audit findings, or supplier specifics.
- Incorporate space for photographic evidence, notes, and document attachments to strengthen the audit record.
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Schedule and Assign Auditors
Organize the audit schedule in eAuditor, assigning auditors with expertise in SMETA protocols and relevant industry knowledge. Provide training on using the eAuditor’s mobile app for seamless data collection.
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Execution Phase: In-Depth On-Site Audit
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Perform Physical Inspections and Observations
Auditors use eAuditor on mobile devices to inspect working environments, safety measures, environmental controls, and ethical business practices. Key activities include:
- Checking safety equipment, emergency exits, and hygiene facilities.
- Assessing environmental management, like waste disposal, emissions controls, and resource efficiency.
- Reviewing policies, payroll records, contracts, and training documentation.
- Conducting confidential interviews with workers to gather insight into working conditions, grievance handling, and ethical concerns.
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Real-Time Data Capture and Documentation
Every finding is recorded in eAuditor instantly, with compliance status, detailed observations, and non-compliance severity ratings. Photos, scanned documents, and audio or video notes can be attached to provide robust evidence.
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Reporting Phase: Detailed Analysis and Communication
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Automated, Customizable Report Generation
Once the audit is complete, eAuditor automatically generates a professional SMETA 7.0 4-Pillar report. This includes:
- Executive summaries highlighting overall compliance and critical issues.
- Detailed breakdowns of each pillar with specific observations and evidence.
- Clear identification of non-conformances with recommended corrective actions.
- Signatures from auditors and auditees are required to validate the report.
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Report Distribution and Secure Archiving
Reports can be instantly shared with clients, regulatory bodies, or uploaded to the Sedex platform. eAuditor’s cloud storage ensures that audit histories are securely maintained and accessible for future reference or comparative analysis.
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Follow-Up and Continuous Improvement
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Corrective Action Management
Use eAuditor to assign corrective tasks with deadlines and responsible persons. Progress is tracked in real-time with automatic reminders, ensuring timely resolution of issues.
- Ongoing Monitoring and Risk Mitigation
Schedule periodic re-audits or spot checks to verify improvements. Utilize eAuditor’s analytics to identify trends, recurring risks, or areas requiring supplier development programs. This data-driven approach supports the continuous enhancement of ethical and sustainable business practices.
Summary
Conducting a SMETA 7.0 Audit using eAuditor enables organizations to systematically and digitally assess critical ethical, environmental, and business practices across their supply chains. The platform’s customizable checklists, real-time evidence collection, automated reporting, and action tracking empower companies to maintain compliance with international standards, increase transparency, mitigate risks, and foster continuous improvement. This method not only streamlines audit processes but also builds stronger, more responsible supply chains aligned with global best practices.