What is it
A second-party audit is an assessment of a supplier or contractor carried out by the customer (or experts engaged by them) against their own requirements: quality, food safety, occupational safety, ethics. Unlike a certification audit, the result is evaluated by the customer themselves, and the requirements are tailored to a specific contract.
Who needs a second-party audit
- Companies assessing their suppliers of raw materials and products
- Exporters preparing for a visit by a foreign customer
- Chains and distributors selecting contract manufacturers
- Enterprises launching a supplier evaluation system
What your company gets
- An objective picture of the supplier's condition before signing a contract
- A nonconformity map with priorities and a corrective action plan
- Reduced risks of supply disruptions, defects and end-customer claims
- Readiness for audits by major customers
How the audit works
Timeline — from 1 week, depending on the number of sites to visit and the volume of requirements. We set the exact timeline after agreeing the checklist.
Checklist
We define the assessment criteria: customer requirements, standards, industry practice
Assessment
We visit the production site: documents, processes, working conditions, staff interviews
Report
We prepare a report with nonconformities, photo evidence and a risk assessment
Remediation
We help the supplier close nonconformities and confirm the result
Second-party audit in Uzbekistan: a closer look at supplier assessment
A second-party audit in Uzbekistan is commissioned by companies that need confidence in a supplier's reliability before signing a contract or continuing cooperation. For Uzbek enterprises this works both ways: we assess suppliers on behalf of customers and prepare production sites for the audits conducted by their foreign buyers.
How a second-party audit differs from certification
A certification audit is carried out by an independent body against a standard — for example, ISO 9001 — and results in a certificate. A second-party audit is carried out in the interests of a specific customer against their checklist: the result is not a certificate but a report with nonconformities and a risk assessment. Such an assessment is more flexible, cheaper and answers the question 'can we work with this supplier' more precisely.
What is checked during a supplier audit
The typical scope: the quality management system and traceability, the condition of production and equipment, storage conditions, staff competence, raw material documents, occupational safety and environment. For food producers the requirements of HACCP are added; for export contracts — ethical aspects similar to SMETA. The audit scope is always agreed with the customer before the visit.
How a second-party audit works
Stage 1. Preparation. We gather the customer's requirements, build the checklist and the visit programme. Stage 2. On-site assessment. We work on site: production walkthrough, document review, staff interviews, photo evidence. Stage 3. Report. We prepare a structured report: nonconformities by criticality, risk assessment, recommendations. Stage 4. Corrective actions. On request, we help the supplier close the nonconformities and conduct a follow-up assessment.
Who benefits from commissioning such an audit
Importers and trading houses assess Uzbek manufacturers before the first delivery. Chains and distributors — when selecting contract manufacturers. Manufacturers themselves — to see themselves in advance through the customer's eyes and pass their audit without critical findings. One assessment usually takes 1–2 days on site.
Timeline and cost of a second-party audit in Uzbekistan
The timeline is from 1 week after the checklist is agreed: preparation, visit, report. The cost depends on the number of sites, the volume of requirements and the need for follow-up visits. An exact estimate follows once the task is clarified — free of charge.
Why it is safer with us
Our experts have been auditing production sites in Uzbekistan for over 15 years and know the industry specifics: textiles, food industry, packaging, construction materials. We work both in the customer's interests and help suppliers prepare for assessments — so we understand the evaluation criteria from both sides.
What it costs
The cost depends on the number of sites to visit, the volume of requirements and the need for follow-up visits. Leave a request and within a day we will calculate the exact cost and timeline for your case. The estimate is free and non-binding.