INFORMATION ON SEDEX AND DETAILS OF SMETA

SUPPLEMENTS
This gives information on the location of the standard SMETA documents as well as
guidance available to members in preparing for a SMETA audit

The auditor is often the first contact a supplier site has with both the SMETA process and the
Sedex system. It is therefore essential that the auditor is sufficiently informed about the
Sedex system to be able to explain its advantages to a supplier site, and answer any
questions the site may have.

SMETA is an audit process which represents the best of good practice in social audits from
within the Sedex membership. This process results in an audit report and action plan
(CAPR).

Sedex is a data base where sites can upload social audit information to be shared by all their
customers who are Sedex members. The audit data stays under the control of the supplier
site, who gives visibility of the information by linking to chosen customers. Most Sedex
members recommend a SMETA audit for consistency of information, but it is possible to
upload any social audit onto Sedex depending on the requirements of a site’s customers.

The notes below give SOME guidance on what must be covered either ahead of or during
the audit, it should include but not be limited to:

 The audit body advises the auditee of the requirement and process of the Sedex
uploading and management process and any associated fees for these services( if
relevant)
 Sedex, Suppliers Ethical Data Exchange is a not for profit membership organisation
for businesses committed to continuous improvement of the ethical and responsible
practices in their supply chains.
 Sedex promotes data sharing to ease the administrative burden on supplier sites
when trading with multiple retailers/brand customers that require ethical audits.
Suppliers can upload audits and share them with their customers, cutting out
repetition, cost and administration and reducing the number of audits.
 Sedex allows the sharing of good practice at a site: Site certifications can be
uploaded; details of training programmes; involvement with community projects and
NGOs; can all show as good examples’ in audit reports, and audit upload.
 Sedex members include leading global brands and thousands of suppliers are
already registered in 163 countries. The member base is significantly growing each
month and an ever increasing number of your customers are likely to be on Sedex.
 To upload an audit into the system, first the facility has to log the audit in Sedex. The
auditor will receive an email notification and can upload the on-site conducted audit
and actions. Following this, the audit can be visible to customers.
 The supplier is then able to enter actions against issues on line which will then be
verified by the auditors.
 Sedex strongly recommend that external audits are uploaded by the auditing

5G – Information on Sedex and SMETA Supplements

 company as this provides greater independence.

For details, follow the links

For SMETA documents on the public section of the website

http://www.sedexglobal.com/ethical-audits/smeta/

SMETA Supplements for members, and on the members resources section

SMETA Non-compliance guidance

This common non-compliance guidance document has been developed to give members
including supplier sites, a more consistent approach to examples of non-compliances,
grading of non-compliances - critical to minor - and suggested timeframes for correction
within SMETA procedures. https://www.sedex.org.uk/sedex/go.asp?u=/ho/Resourc2

SMETA Corrective Action Guidance

This document has been developed to suggest a common approach to possible corrective
actions following a SMETA audit. It is a 'partner document' to the SMETA Non compliances
guidance.
It cannot cover all possible corrective actions and we suggest that members use it only if
they find it helpful. It is not intended to replace any systems which members may already
have in place. https://www.sedex.org.uk/sedex/go.asp?u=/ho/Resourc2

5G – Information on Sedex and SMETA Supplements