Sedex or SMETA Audit? Here’s What Your Buyer Wants You to Understand

 If you work in manufacturing, likely in garments, packaging, food processing, or any business that exports, you have probably experienced a buyer asking, "Are you Sedex certified?" or asking to do a SMETA audit. At first, it seems you are being asked the same thing, but you are not. Here is what they mean, and how to do it right, without wasting time doing paperwork that is not needed.

Sedex is not an Audit; It is a Platform

Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) is only a platform. It is an online database that companies use to share the results of their ethical audits. It is not a certification. There is no badge, logo, or off-site visit by Sedex.

What your buyer wants is:

• You have a Sedex profile.

• You’ve uploaded your latest SMETA audit report.

• They can view your performance and risk level.

Sedex is just the locker. What matters is what you put in it.

SMETA Is the Audit That Happens in Your Factory  

SMETA stands for Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit. It’s a real, on-site audit done by a third-party agency. It checks how your site treats workers, maintains safety, follows the law, and runs its operations day to day. There are no gold stars here. You don’t “pass” or “fail” SMETA. The auditor simply reports the facts: what’s working, what’s not, and whether your factory is doing the right thing. That report is then uploaded to Sedex, where your buyer reads it and decides the next steps.

Why Buyers Care So Much About SMETA  

No serious brand wants to be tied to a factory that breaks labour laws, puts workers at risk, or operates illegally. It’s not just bad for their image; it can also lead to legal trouble, especially in places like the UK, EU, and the US.  This is where SMETA is integral - buyers are able to view your uploaded audit report without taking the time and resources to visit every supplier to check compliance and risk. SMETA makes it quicker, cheaper, and leads to informed sourcing decisions. When a buyer asks you to have a SMETA audit done, what they are saying is: “We need to be assured your operations are not going to affect our brand.”

What Happens During a SMETA Audit?  

A SMETA audit typically takes one to two days on-site. The auditor will:

• Check your production floor, canteen, bathrooms, and personal protective equipment.

• Interview workers in private.

• Review timecards, payroll, contracts, and IDs.

• Look at your policies on safety, harassment, and working hours.

Examine your safety systems, including fire drills, chemical logs, exits, and signage.

They aren’t just ticking boxes. They’re checking if your team follows what’s on paper. And they can spot fake documents from a distance.

Top Reasons Factories Fail the Audit  

Here’s where most factories go wrong:

• Workers doing overtime beyond legal limits.

• Wages not meeting minimum wage laws.

• No proof of safety training or fire drills.

• Fake attendance logs.

• Harassment policy exists, but no one knows about it.

The issue isn’t just missing records. It’s a disconnect between what’s written and what really happens. Auditors want proof that your systems are real, not staged for the audit.

Two-Pillar or Four-Pillar? Know What You Need  

2-Pillar SMETA covers:

• Labour Standards.

• Health & Safety.

4-Pillar SMETA includes all of the above, plus:

• Environmental impact.

• Business ethics.

Some buyers only require the 2-pillar version. Larger brands often want a 4-pillar. Don’t guess. Just ask your customer what they need. It will save you time and money.

How to Prepare Without Overthinking It  

• Workers: Do they know their rights? Are they overworked or underpaid?

• Policies: Not just printed, but explained and followed.

• Records: Should be real, complete, and consistent. No shortcuts.

• Safety: Fire exits, first aid, chemical handling, and bathrooms, all must be functional, not just clean.

Forget staging. Be honest. If you have issues, fix them instead of hiding them. Buyers prefer a factory that improves over one that pretends.

Should You Hire a Consultant?  

If this is your first SMETA audit or if your previous one didn’t go well, hiring a consultant can help a lot. They can identify gaps you’ve missed, organize your records, and train your team on what matters. At Legal4sure, we’ve helped many factories across textiles, packaging, and food meet Sedex and SMETA requirements correctly. 

No shortcuts, no staged files, just honest preparation that holds up during real audits. SMETA isn’t something you can quickly prepare for at the last minute. It checks how your factory runs. At Legal4sure, we guide factories to strengthen systems and train teams for genuine compliance. SMETA reflects real efforts, not perfection. Buyers want progress, not staged files. We help you show that honestly and clearly.

Contact us today: +91 9870304757