Factory claims vs verified sourcing findings
A sourcing recommendation should label each factory claim, identify its source and show what was checked, when and against which specification. Verified findings must stay within the evidence's scope; gaps and conflicting accounts should remain visible. Ask for this distinction in recommendations from Cambridge China Bridge.
Give each statement an evidence status
The guide on briefing a sourcing agent explains how to request named sources and evidence. The next step is to keep those sources visible in the recommendation. Ask for a claim record against each requirement, rather than a general verdict that the factory is verified.
Separate what the factory said, what a document records, what the agent observed and what the agent concludes. A document received from the factory remains supplier-provided evidence until its origin and relevance have been checked. An agent's interpretation should state its reasoning.
| Status | What the report should say |
|---|---|
| Factory statement | Who made the claim, their role, when and through which channel; not independently checked. |
| Document reviewed | Document source, issuer, date and product scope; specify whether authenticity was checked. |
| Observed or measured | Who performed the check, the method, date, item or process examined and result. |
| Agent assessment | Conclusion drawn from identified evidence, with assumptions and limitations. |
| Unresolved | Missing evidence or conflicting accounts, the next check and its effect on the recommendation. |
Describe the check, not just its result
For each finding, record the factory and site, the requirement checked, the checker, the method and the evidence location. Distinguish a supplier's photograph from a live walk-through directed by the agent, and both from an on-site observation. State whether equipment was merely present or actually operated with relevant material.
Use wording such as: 'The agent observed the coating line operating on the sample material; repeat production consistency was not assessed.' Avoid upgrading this to 'coating capability fully verified'. For the underlying equipment checks, use verifying a factory's capability.
Date the evidence and bound its scope
Keep the date of the factory statement, the document's issue date, the check date and the recommendation date separate. Record the product specification revision, material, sample identity and production site covered. Recently received evidence may describe an earlier product or a different site.
State what was unavailable or excluded: inaccessible areas, records not supplied, a line that was idle, or samples selected by the supplier. Missing evidence means the point remains unverified; it does not by itself prove the claim false. Define what changes would trigger another check, including a different material, process or subcontractor.
Keep contradictions open until evidence resolves them
If sales says a process is in-house but the production manager says it is subcontracted, retain both accounts with their sources and dates. Identify whether they concern the same product, site and process. Do not choose the more reassuring account or remove the discrepancy from the summary.
Assign the follow-up to a named person and state what evidence would resolve it. Put the affected decision on hold if the contradiction concerns a capability essential to your order. Close the issue only when the report explains what changed and points to the supporting evidence; retain the earlier accounts.
Make the recommendation conditional and traceable
Recommend a defined next step, such as sample development, a production trial or further investigation. Explain which findings support it, which assumptions remain and what must be checked before the next commitment. Apply the same evidence labels to every shortlisted supplier so a well-documented limitation is not penalised against an unsupported assurance.
Manufacturers and importers placing products on the UK market need to demonstrate compliance with relevant safety requirements. Keep this assessment separate from factory capability: seeing equipment operate does not establish product compliance. Use verifying product test reports for report checks, and identify any product-specific assessment still outstanding.
Frequently asked questions
Does a factory statement count as verified evidence?
It is evidence of what the factory said. Label it as a factory statement until the relevant claim has been checked, and identify who said it and when.
What should a sourcing report say was checked?
Name the checker, method, date, site and product or process examined. Show the supporting evidence and state what the check did not establish.
How old can factory verification evidence be?
Judge whether it still covers your product, site and process. Record its dates and check for changes since it was gathered; a recently forwarded document may describe an earlier configuration.
What if the factory gives conflicting answers?
Keep both accounts visible, name the follow-up owner and specify the evidence needed. Hold the affected commitment where the unresolved point is essential to the order.