In recognition of the complexity of the leather supply chain, we launched this audit standard to provide certification to companies which buy and own leather, but use subcontractors to complete all operations: known as a 'Commissioning Manufacturer'.
The LWG Commissioning Manufacturer Audit Standard requires that a company must have their entire production chain audited and certified by LWG.
Whether they subcontract out the production to a full scope leather manufacturer (that has been audited via the LWG Leather Manufacturer Audit Standard) or to a series of seperate companies each completing some operations (that have been audited via the LWG Subcontractor Audit Standardl) – all members of the production chain must be audited.
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Eligibility
The LWG Commissioning Manufacturer Audit Standard was designed to assess companies that:
- Sell finished leather to customers
- Buy and own their own leather
- Subcontract out all manufacturing operations to external organisations (leather manufacturers or subcontractors) -- meaning they do not complete any leather manufacturing operations themselves
- Are responsible for RSL compliance of the finished leather
- Use leather manufacturers or subcontractors that have all been audited and certified by LWG
Commissioning Manufacturers can be awarded a Medal Rating in the same way that leather manufacturers audited using the LWG Leather Manufacturer Audit Standard are.
Important Note:
All LWG audits are site audits — it is not the leather nor the company that is audited.
A commissioning manufacturer audit relates to the site, most usually a warehouse, through which the commissioned manufactured product is processed (e.g., graded, measured, etc) prior to being despatched to a client.
The onsite audit activities should result in certainty, through physical confirmation and assessment of relevant documentation, that it is leather from LWG audited sources that is being despatched to clients. Operations that involve direct shipment from the final stage of manufacturing to client are not capable of being audited using the current commissioning manufacturer audit protocol.
Organisations that facilitate shipment but have no warehousing facility (i.e., organisations that are wholly office based) are not capable of being audited using the current commissioning manufacturer audit protocol.
Audit Scope
The LWG Commissioning Manufacturer Audit Standard was designed to asses the production process of a company that does not carry out any of their own manufacturing processes, but rather uses a series of subcontractors.
Certification validity: 24-months
Award: Medal Rating
Ready to apply?
Ready to become an LWG-certified Commissioning Manufacturer? Click the button below to register for an audit now!