International brands and reputations have been irreparably harmed by the actions of suppliers and vendors operating in other parts of the world. These organizations have been hurt by the reactions of their shareholders, consumers and media outlets who demand these companies pay a financial price for not conducting their business in an ethical manner.

As a result, companies are embracing defined CSR processes to manage their corporate risk and highlight their efforts to conduct business in a socially responsible manner.

East West assists companies with the design of a CSR process and the development and execution of a CSR audit in China. Because of our team in China, East West ensures better compliance and reduced costs than companies managing this process from the US.

These audits are tailored to meet the needs of each client but will include inspections for child and prison labor, treatment of chemical and material waste. These audits are conducted once or twice annually.

The process used to effectively grade progress toward social responsibility often includes an independent audit customized to fit the social responsibility guidelines for the respective organization. Auditors should be independent and external to the corporation in order to establish credibility and integrity of the process.

We believe that the best process to effect meaningful adherence and change is a continuous one. Therefore we recommend using the same audit firm for the initial and subsequent audits. These should be unscheduled and with an eye toward progress against findings from previous audits. Essentially; "Has progress been made on recommendations prescribed from previous audits?"

The reporting function to the organization should be without obstacles, corporate editing and redactions. The audit should be confidential and circulated to the executive level positions responsible for corporate governance. Circulation is most often a Leadership Team, Executive board or Board of directors.