SEDEX

SEDEX Audit

What Is SEDEX?
Supplier Ethical Data Exchange

What is SMETA? Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audits

SEDEX stands for Supplier Ethical Data Exchange. Sedex audit is performs against the SMETA guidelines, SMETA stands for Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audits and it is one of the most used format for ethical audits. It is the audit methodology developed by the sedex members. It is a compilation of good practices in ethical audit techniques. Using SMETA, a supplier can have one audit conducted and share with multiple customers rather than having different audit conducted for each customer. SMETA based on Labour standard, Health & Safety, Environment & Business ethics. SEDEX ultimate objective is improve working conditions in all over the supply chain such as farmers, raw materials suppliers, manufacturers etc.

SEDEX is the non-profit organization based in London-UK, it offers the memberships that helps members & suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chain. Sedex is having a web base system which maintain all the supplier’s details including audit reports and caps that is also accessible for their customers by supplier’s consent.

SEDEX program is not a program for certification – a supplier does not receive a formal certificate upon conclusion of the SMETA audit. SEDEX is the voluntary standard and is suitable for any organization i.e large, medium and small considering improvement in its ethical practices and sustainability to meet the expectations of all stakeholders. It is the pre-request to start business relationship with UK based customers. Mostly International customers wave their own social audit of factory on behalf of SMETA audit report and they evaluate the audit results according to their criteria and give the rating to the factory such as Wal Mart the giant retailer of the world also accepts SMETA audit report and evaluate it against the social audit criteria and give the rating to the supplier. Nestle & Unilever also evaluate their supplier ethical performance on SMETA standard as well as Unilever is having their own guideline with some additions with the name of URSA.

SEDEX doesn’t conduct audit itself and only affiliate auditing companies can conduct the SMETA audit and use the SEDEX advance system as well as those companies must have the full membership of APSCA. Mostly retailers, importers and customers don’t accept the audit report if affiliated auditing company and their auditor have no membership number of APSCA.

Benefits of SMETA Audit – SEDEX

  • Compliance with International and national regulations
  • Build strong relationship with customers
  • Get new business opportunities from international Retailers
  • Meet pre-qualification requirement of UK based Retail stores for new business
  • Improve social performance
  • Enhance ethical trading program
  • Get waiver against customers code of conduct audit
  • Improve the reporting structure
  • Improve the traceability
  • Build relation with customers on sedex portal
  • Globally accepted standard
  • Helpful to attract new customers
  • Helpful to retain the confidence of existing customers
  • Consistent outcome, measured and monitored
  • Acceptable for International organizations
  • Safety of workers

SMETA Code of Conduct Focuses on Labor Rights are as Follow

  • Freely chosen employment
  • Freedom of association
  • Safety & hygienic conditions
  • Child labour
  • Living wage & benefits
  • Working hours
  • Discrimination
  • Regular Employment
  • Sub contracting & home working
  • Harsh & inhuman treatment
  • Entitlement to work
  • Environment
  • Business ethics
By implementing this standards organization can improve its overall social compliance performance to assure the confidence & satisfaction as well as meeting the expectation of its customers

SMETA Audit Process

After finalization of agreement with client, Quality Systems’ experts visit to client’s premises and conduct the complete gap analysis of existing system against the SMETA code of conduct and discuss the gap report to the management, Identified gaps could be in documents, implementation, fire safety, building & electrical safety, compensation, employee’s awareness, statutory & regulatory and local law compliances. We commence work according to the agreed timelines as per final gap report and proceed for the audit once all the documentation, implementation, and other requirements are done. Our technical team provides complete assistance, support and cooperation throughout the process to make certification audit successful in first attempt.

There are two types of SMETA audits as below

2 Pillar SMETA Audit

  • ETI based code of conduct
  • SMETA additions
  • Universal rights covering UNGP
  • Management system and code of implementation
  • Responsible recruitment
  • Entitlement work & immigration
  • Sub-Contracting and home working

4 Pillar SMETA Audits

  • 2 Pillar requirements plus
  • Additional pillar assessment of environment
  • Additional pillar of business ethics
  • The customer’s supplier code

There are some certain formalities to be fulfilled for proceeding the Audit by any affiliate third party

1. Supplier will create the account on Sedex advance system and will be registered as a B member and fill out the complete information of company and every company has unique ZC number.

2. Create the site which to be audited and more than one sites can be created with additional fee for each site and every site have the unique ZS number.

3. Fill the SAQ form.
4. Initiate the audit to any of the affiliated company.
5. ZC & ZS numbers are required by auditors in start of audit.

6. Once the audit done and report will be uploaded on the sedex portal and supplier uploads the evidences against each desktop issue raised during the audit and submitted to the auditor review. If any follow up issue is raised that can’t be closed without onsite follow up visit by auditor of affiliated auditing company.

7. Once the auditor completes the review on SEDEX portal, supplier can build an online relationship to the customers to share the audit information.

Cost of SEDEX Audit

Charges of SEDEX audit can not be flat and same for every organization, please contact us in this regard.

Why Quality Systems

Quality Systems is working with the team of qualified and experienced consultants and trainers having vast industrial experience, most of our consultants are also lead auditors who are aware to the expectations of auditors from your management system during the audit. Quality systems is assisting across the world to implement and achieve the SEDEX outstanding ratings. Our consultation methodology is highly professional, time bound and effective and we always add value to the business process of the client’s organization.

Our SEDEX audit complete package comprised on following segments such as training, implementation, consultation, gap analysis, documentation, internal audits, pre assessment, third party audit through world’s most recognized accredited and SEDEX affiliated third parties and post audit enhancement / maintenance services to enable your organization to get the best outcome of SEDEX. Our services are globally accepted, authoritative and benchmarked in the field of SMETA audit.