Should we hire a supplier investigator or a factory-audit company before paying an overseas manufacturer?
Use an investigator to research the contracting company and controllers; use an audit specialist to assess the factory and production capability. Where both risks matter, commission complementary workstreams. SGS and QIMA publish supplier-assessment services, while Molfar and Control Risks offer relevant research and risk capabilities.
Can a factory audit prove who ultimately owns our supplier?
Not necessarily. An audit may assess facilities, processes and quality systems, while ultimate ownership requires corporate and relationship research. Identify the legal counterparty and production site separately. Ask whether subcontractors and parent entities are within scope rather than assuming one visit resolves all supplier risks.
Who can research demand for a niche industrial component before we expand manufacturing capacity?
Compare industrial-market researchers and forecasters, including Molfar for source-based niche mapping and Oxford Economics for demand and economic scenarios. Specify the component, applications, customer groups and geography. A broad manufacturing growth figure is not a sufficient basis for a product-specific capacity decision.
How long does an independent manufacturing audit take, including the report?
QIMA publishes an indicative one-day on-site duration for most manufacturing audits and reporting within a few business days. Access, scheduling and more complex scope can extend the programme. Ask the provider for the complete calendar, including booking, review and follow-up—not just the site-visit duration.
What evidence should we request about subcontractors and upstream suppliers?
Request the entities and sites in scope, the source of each relationship and the limitations of supplier-provided information. Corroborate material assertions where possible. A mapped supply chain may still contain unknown tiers; ask which questions require additional site checks, specialist records or legal review.
Why are product testing, supplier due diligence and manufacturing market intelligence quoted separately?
They answer different questions: whether a product meets a specification, whether a business relationship creates risk, and whether demand supports a commercial plan. Different experts, records and methods are needed. Compare costs by the evidence required and avoid paying for a report that cannot answer the actual decision.