Overview
AP FAS address the physical validation of evidence regarding a supplier’s capability, competence and compliance within agreed parameters. The audit and assessment services are a natural extension to the assurance process provided by the existing supply chain management services (APUG SMS) provided by Achilles.
Achilles pre-qualifies suppliers who are then assessed, focusing upon health & safety, environment and quality issues. It also offers social and ethical supplier audits that support corporate social responsibility related requirements.
The information generated as a result of a audit enables both procurement and compliance teams to manage their resources and supply chains more effectively because they can be confident the information provided by Achilles has been rigorously assessed against industry best practice.
Background
A factory assessment or an audit is a formal inspection that is long established as a reliable method of validating the current status of an organisation. Procurement and Compliance teams need to be able to manage their risk when procuring services from suppliers, and knowing that suppliers they use are on a regular basis have been independently audited, providing them with a greater level of assurance.
Key Features
- Tailored to meet the needs of individual business sectors, AP FAS include aspects of the following: Corporate Social Responsibility, Health & Safety, Environment, Sustainability, Quality, and discipline specific product groups that allow the auditor to assess specific high risk activities or services. Our audit programmes are constructive, providing insight and guidance.
- AP FAS are carried out on-site by Achilles, and the resulting data is then assessed and verified, this includes supplier review.
- Achilles audit staff are highly qualified and are selected based upon their professional competence and audit experience obtained from the Utility sector. Another unique aspect of all Achilles audit personnel is that they must be licensed to deliver audits which are an accreditation of the individual defined by examination.
- AP FAS is tailored to specific industry best practice.
- The scope of each factory assessment is continually reviewed and improved with the input of particular industry stakeholder groups.
Key Benefits
Buyers
- Assurance that Achilles provides the appropriate level of rigor and scrutiny
- Trusted 3rd party verification of supplier capabilities
- Improvement plans agreed with suppliers for corrective actions
- Performance in factory assessments over time can be monitored
- Achievement of continuous improvement
Suppliers
- Suppliers are treated equally
- Minimised duplication and costs of factory assessments within the APUG Utility buyers
- A transparent and ordered approach to audit
- Provides a learning opportunity for the supplier to plan continuous improvement actions
- Audits may support reduced insurance premiums