A CNC machine factory audit in China should follow one order from build release to shipment. The aim is not to judge a clean workshop or a busy assembly line. It is to confirm that the factory can identify the ordered configuration, control changes, inspect the machine and retain records tied to its serial number.
Begin with one real order
Select a machine on the floor and trace it backward. Match its serial number to the customer specification, option list, purchased components, assembly checks and inspection report. A factory may have good procedures yet fail to connect them to a specific unit. Serial-level traceability is what makes a later question answerable.
Walk the process in production order
- Incoming control: How are major castings, spindle, control, drives, guides and screws identified and inspected?
- Assembly: Which alignment, torque, lubrication and cleanliness checks are recorded?
- Electrical build: Are wiring changes reflected in the supplied diagrams and parts list?
- Parameter and software control: Who approves CNC parameters, PLC versions and backups?
- Final inspection: Which geometry, axis, function and order-specific tests release the machine?
- Packing: How are loose parts, documents, rust prevention and shipping marks checked?
Records to sample
| Record | What to compare | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Build specification | Sales proposal versus production release | Options exist only in email or chat |
| Nonconformance log | Problem, disposition, approval and closure | Corrections are made with no trace |
| Inspection report | Serial number, method, limits and results | A generic certificate with no machine identity |
| Software backup | Version, date and recovery instructions | No controlled copy supplied with the machine |
| Packing list | Options, tools, manuals and loose items | Contents cannot be reconciled before sealing |
Ask to see how a problem is handled
A mature process is not a process with no recorded problems. Choose a recent nonconformance and follow its cause, disposition and approval. This shows whether the factory can contain an issue without hiding it and whether a design or work instruction is updated when needed.
Remote audits need controls too
For a remote visit, request live video, choose samples during the call and ask to move between departments without edits. Share the audit list in advance so records can be available, but keep the right to select the serial numbers. Use a third party when the order risk or contract requires independent witnessing.
The audit result should be a list of evidence, open items and deadlines, not a broad “passed” statement. CNC Tech provides an overview of its company and manufacturing activities; buyers can request order-specific inspection and acceptance details through the contact page.