ICS audit, fully known as International Convention for Standards, is a social responsibility audit standard developed by FCD members based on the guidelines of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on social responsibility management schemes and incorporating concepts from the SA8000 standard. The ICS audit primarily evaluates a company's performance in areas such as human rights, occupational health and safety, factory site conditions, wages, and factory procedural documentation.

II. Audit Content of ICS

ICS audit mainly covers two major aspects:

1. Social Compliance - Core Part

The audit evaluates the following aspects based on the "ICS Code of Conduct," local laws and regulations, and international standards (such as ILO conventions):

• Child Labor: Prohibition of child labor.

• Forced Labor: Prohibition of any form of forced or bonded labor.

• Discrimination: Prohibition of discrimination based on gender, race, religion, etc.

• Working Hours and Wages: Compliance of working hours and overtime pay with legal requirements.

• Health and Safety: Firefighting facilities, emergency exits, occupational protection, first aid, etc.

• Freedom of Association: Employees have the right to form or join trade unions.

• Disciplinary Measures: Prohibition of any form of physical punishment, mental or physical coercion.

• Management System: Documentation, transparency, complaint mechanisms, etc.

2. Environment - Additional Part

Some ICS members require additional environmental assessments, such as:

• Waste Management

• Wastewater and Exhaust Gas Emissions

• Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Chemical Management

III. Process of ICS Audit

1. Initiate Audit: Audits can only be initiated by ICS members (buyers/brand owners); suppliers cannot apply on their own.

2. Audit Notification: Usually semi-announced (with a 2-4 week advance notice of a time window) or completely unannounced.

3. Conduct Audit: Carried out by ICS-recognized third-party audit companies (e.g., SGS, BV, TÜV, UL, etc.) over 1-3 days of on-site evaluation, including document checks, site inspections, and employee interviews.

4. Audit Report: A detailed report is issued after the audit, containing identified issues (non-conformities) and ratings.

5. Corrective Actions (CAPA): Suppliers must develop a Corrective Action Plan and implement improvements for the non-conformities.

6. Result Sharing: The audit report is uploaded to the ICS database, and ICS members associated with the factory can share the audit results.

IV. How Many Levels Are There in ICS Audit Results?

ICS audit uses a scoring system to classify results into four levels: "A, B, C, D."

• Level A: Two-year validity, score above 125 points, which is generally difficult for factories to achieve;

• Level B: Two-year validity, score between 75-125 points, accepted by most clients;

• Level C: One-year validity, score between 25-74 points, accepted by some clients;

• Level D: Unacceptable, with serious compliance issues, score between 0-24 points.