A one-day factory audit is the highest-ROI $2,000 a solar buyer can spend. Here's the exact protocol our sourcing desk uses — from arrival to sign-off report.
Typical audit duration
1–2 days
1 day for existing supplier
Third-party audit cost
$1,800
SGS/TÜV/BV
Own-team audit cost
$3,500
flights, hotels, translator
Two-day audit agenda
- Day 1 AM: Legal review — business licence, capital, court records, past export volumes
- Day 1 PM: Production line walk — stringer, laminator, framer, EL station, sun simulator, IV tester
- Day 1 evening: Warehouse — raw materials aging, FG staging, bill of materials trace
- Day 2 AM: Lab review — in-house EL, IV, hi-pot testing frequency and calibration
- Day 2 PM: Commercial — 90-day production plan, quality escape rate, warranty claims log
Sun simulator not calibrated in last 12 months, EL station operator unfamiliar with defect grading standards, warehouse with no traceable serial numbering, sales team unwilling to introduce the factory manager.
Frequently asked questions
QShould I bring my own auditor or use SGS?
For first supplier audit — bring your own technical person plus a Chinese-speaking sourcing agent. For repeat annual audits — SGS or TÜV is efficient.
Post your specification on Chinese.Solar and our AI matches you to 3–5 verified tier-1 manufacturers in under 60 seconds — with live CIF pricing, factory audits and export track records.