02Service
Pre-Audit and Readiness (Gap Analysis)
A pre-audit is a readiness assessment that follows the method of a real audit so a supplier can find and fix gaps before a brand, amfori BSCI, SMETA or WRAP audit.
What is a pre-audit and who is it for?
A pre-audit is a rehearsal for the real thing: the auditor looks at the same areas with the same method, but the goal is to show you the gaps in time, not to grade you.
It suits workshops facing their first brand audit, suppliers about to start with a new brand, and sites that received serious findings last time. At the end the site receives a prioritised list of what to fix, and in what order.
What does a pre-audit check?
- Completeness of personnel files, employment contracts and social security records
- Consistency between time records, overtime and payroll
- Age verification and young worker practices
- Health and safety: risk assessment, emergency plan, drill records, fire equipment, emergency exits
- Environmental permits, waste and chemical management
- Policies, procedures and the worker grievance channel
- Subcontracting and subcontractor records
How does the pre-audit process work?
- 01
Define the target audit
We confirm which brand or programme (amfori BSCI, SMETA, WRAP) you are preparing for, and when.
- 02
Site and document review
A site tour, document review and worker interviews are carried out using the method of the real audit.
- 03
Action list
Gaps are ranked by severity, with a plain-language note on what needs to be done for each one.
- 04
Training and check-back
Where needed, management and relevant staff are trained, and fixes can be checked before the real audit.
Pre-audit: common questions
- How far ahead should a pre-audit be done?
Early enough to leave time to fix what it finds. Some gaps, such as fire equipment or record-keeping, can take weeks, so it should not be left to the last few days.
- Is the pre-audit report sent to the brand?
No. If the supplier commissioned the pre-audit, the report belongs to the supplier and is not shared with anyone without its consent.
- Does a pre-audit guarantee a pass or a certificate?
No. A pre-audit lets you see the risks in advance; the result depends on the situation on the day of the real audit and on the rules of the programme concerned.