China Supplier Audit Checklist: 15 Checks Before Paying a Deposit

A supplier audit should answer two different questions: whether the company is who it claims to be, and whether its actual process can deliver the specified product. A registration check alone cannot prove manufacturing capability, while a factory visit without legal and payment verification can miss commercial risk.

Company and payment checks

1. Chinese legal name: record the name exactly as shown on the business license.
2. Unified social credit code: compare the identifier across official and supplier documents.
3. Registration status and business scope: review public company information through China’s National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System where available.
4. Quotation and contract entity: clarify any difference between the factory, trading company and contracting party.
5. Receiving bank account: match the beneficiary with the agreed entity or document the legitimate relationship.

Factory and process checks

6. Production stages: identify what is completed internally and what is subcontracted.
7. Relevant machinery and tooling: verify that equipment fits the proposed material and process.
8. Capacity and current workload: compare claimed output with machines, shifts, workers and orders in progress.
9. Key material control: review incoming checks, approved suppliers, storage and batch traceability where relevant.
10. Subcontractor control: understand who controls printing, coating, heat treatment, electronics, packaging or other external stages.

Quality and documentation checks

11. Specification control: confirm how drawings, versions, samples and buyer changes reach production.
12. In-process checks: identify measurable checkpoints rather than relying only on final visual review.
13. Measuring equipment: confirm suitable tools, calibration or verification where the product requires it.
14. Nonconforming product process: ask how defects are separated, recorded, corrected and prevented from returning.
15. Reports and certificates: check the applicant, manufacturer, model, standard, laboratory and date against the proposed product.

Red flags that require clarification

• The legal, contract and bank names change without a clear explanation.
• Product photos or certificates refer to different companies or models.
• The supplier refuses to identify subcontracted critical processes.
• Capacity claims do not match visible equipment or staffing.
• Payment is pressured before specifications and sample expectations are defined.

Audit, verification and inspection are not interchangeable

A legal verification checks the entity. A factory audit reviews systems and capability. A product inspection checks goods available at a particular time. Higher-risk projects may require all three, plus qualified laboratory testing for regulated requirements.

Primary reference

China’s official enterprise publicity system explains that it provides registration and public credit information from market-regulation authorities and market entities. Public registration is one input—not a quality guarantee.

Compare this checklist with our supplier verification guide and verification and inspection service.

Turn the checklist into a controlled project

A useful sourcing plan begins with the product, quantity, customization, quality expectations, destination and required timing. Send MICStore the brief for an initial feasibility review.

Commercial terms, supplier availability, MOQ, lead time, compliance and shipping requirements are confirmed for each project. This guide is general information rather than legal, tax, customs or certification advice.