Supplier & Second-Party Audits
Your quality, safety and reputation depend on your suppliers. Our registered auditors audit them on your behalf, against your requirements and the relevant standards, and report what they find clearly and impartially.
Audits that support supplier decisions
Second-party audits are carried out for you, as the customer, and complement any third-party certificates your suppliers hold.
Risk-based selection
Suppliers prioritised by spend, criticality and risk.
Custom checklists
Your requirements combined with relevant standards.
On-site audits
Processes, records and facilities audited at the supplier.
Remote assessments
Document and interview-based audits where suitable.
Graded findings
Findings graded consistently across suppliers.
Corrective action follow-up
Supplier actions tracked to closure.
Supplier development
Practical guidance to help suppliers improve.
Programme reporting
Supplier performance summarised for your procurement team.
How supplier audits run
- ScopeSuppliers, criteria and schedule agreed.
- PrepareChecklists and audit plans issued.
- AuditOn-site or remote audit.
- ReportFindings and risk rating.
- Follow upCorrective actions verified.
What you receive
- Supplier audit programme
- Audit reports with graded findings
- Supplier risk ratings
- Corrective action tracking
- Programme summary for procurement
When it helps most
- Qualifying new or critical suppliers
- Customer or regulatory requirements for supplier control
- After quality or safety incidents in the supply chain
- Expanding sourcing into new regions
- Verifying claims beyond a supplier's certificate
One partner, gap to certificate
Gap Assessment
Where you stand against the standard, and a prioritised roadmap.
ConsultancyImplementation
Processes, documents and records built around how you operate.
ConsultancyIntegrated Management Systems
Several standards under one policy, risk register and audit programme.
Certification supportMock Certification Audit
A realistic rehearsal of Stage 1 and Stage 2 before the real audit.
Ongoing partnershipOutsourced Internal Audit
Independent internal audits planned and run by registered auditors.
Ongoing partnershipSurveillance & Recertification
Keeping the system effective between audits, including 2026 transitions.
Supplier & Second-Party Audits FAQ
Is a supplier audit the same as certification?
No. It is a second-party audit on your behalf. It does not certify the supplier; certification is carried out by independent, accredited certification bodies.
Where can you audit suppliers?
We work from offices in the USA, Netherlands, France and Pakistan, with representation in Riyadh, Dubai and Doha, and arrange audits in other countries as needed.
Can you use our own checklist?
Yes. We can audit against your supplier requirements, a standard, or a combination of both.
Strengthen your supply chain
Tell us your suppliers, locations and requirements. We reply with a proposal for a supplier audit programme.
Certification decisions are made by independent, accredited certification bodies. AEC prepares organisations for certification and does not guarantee certification outcomes.