A photograph of a workshop does not explain who will make an upholstered chair’s frame, apply its finish or supply the upholstery. Before assessing a supplier, define the work behind the proposed product and the places responsible for it.
Start with one real order configuration
Use an item such as the upholstered bamboo dining chair as the reference. Its frame and soft parts create different purchasing questions. Ask the supplier to describe the proposed process for that version rather than send a general factory presentation.
The selling company, manufacturing site and specialist subcontractor may have different roles. Record those roles accurately; do not assume they are the same entity or treat outsourced work as automatically unacceptable. The issue is whether responsibilities and oversight are clear.
Build a process and location map
SGS describes factory quality assessments as reviews of production-site processes and manufacturing systems. That supports asking for a process-specific assessment brief; it is not evidence that this supplier or any listed product has passed an SGS audit.
| Step | Information to request |
|---|---|
| Frame and components | Responsible site and proposed production route |
| Surface finishing | Where the specified finish is applied and checked |
| Upholstery | Who controls fabric identity, cutting and assembly |
| Final assembly | Where components are matched to the approved version |
| Inspection and packing | Where the order can be identified and reviewed before release |
Have the supplier identify stages that occur elsewhere. A visit to a packing facility alone cannot answer every question about processes carried out at another location.
Specify what the reviewer must establish
Provide the product specification, intended order scope and unresolved questions. Ask the assessor to state which site, activities and records the proposed assessment covers. Arrange access and confidentiality with the relevant parties before commissioning work.
Separate observed evidence from declarations. A stated monthly capacity is not verified simply because it appears beside a machine photograph. Ask how the relevant capacity was assessed for the proposed product mix without publishing an unsupported number.
Close findings before treating the supplier as approved
Record each open finding, the evidence needed and who makes the purchasing decision. A factory assessment, an approved sample and a production-lot inspection serve different purposes; none should silently substitute for the others.
The certificate and report guide helps identify the scope of supporting documents. In a supplier-assessment enquiry, identify the furniture version and your review requirements. Site identity, process access and assessment arrangements require confirmation for the actual project.