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Case study: Insight into auditing and engagement

Insight into auditing and engagement

Our supplier audits cover all of the issues in our Supplier Code of Conduct. Whilst the kinds of issues identified by the WHSmith audit team vary from factory to factory, the table below gives some insight into improvement areas identified as part of a recent factory audit and the changes made as a result of our team’s discussion with the factory management. The factory profiled manufactures notebooks for WHSmith and is based in south east China.

Before WHSmith audit

After WHSmith audit

No gloves worn by workers who use solvents

Masks and gloves worn by workers using glue

Chemicals placed in unsheltered area

Industrial oil placed in sheltered area

Electricity control panel without switch labels

Inner cover and switch labels marked in the fuse box

Some concern over working hours

Working hours reduced by 10 per cent