The compliance audit has long been the fashion industry's go-to tool for addressing ethical concerns in the supply chain. But as scandals continue to emerge at audited factories, it is becoming clear that compliance is necessary but not sufficient.
The Limits of Auditing
Social audits, when well conducted, can identify obvious violations: excessive working hours, missing fire exits, unpaid wages. But they are limited. A one-day snapshot audit can miss systemic issues. Factories learn to prepare for audits. And many ethical failures are difficult to detect without worker interviews conducted in confidence.
Long-Term Relationships Matter
Some of the most meaningful progress we have seen on factory conditions has come not from audits, but from long-term commercial relationships. When a factory knows it has ongoing business from a brand, it has both the financial security and the incentive to invest in improving conditions.
Worker Voice
The most underutilised tool in ethical supply chain management is listening to workers directly. Anonymous grievance mechanisms, third-party worker surveys, and genuine investment in worker wellbeing programs go far beyond what any audit can achieve.
At NMZ Associates, we build long-term partnerships with our factory network. We believe that ethical sourcing is a journey, not a destination, and we walk that journey alongside our clients and factory partners.