RJC Audit: What Jewellery and Gemstone Exporters Often Overlook
RJC audits rarely fail because companies are unaware of the requirements. The issues usually come from how systems are applied in practice, how consistently they are followed, and whether they can be demonstrated with clear evidence. Understanding this early can prevent delays, rework, and failed audits.
Why audits feel harder than expected
By the time companies reach the audit stage, most have already read through the requirements and have started preparing documentation.
On paper, everything often looks reasonable.
The difficulty appears when an external auditor reviews the business as a whole. The audit does not focus on individual documents. It looks at how the company operates day to day and whether that operation is structured, consistent, and supported by evidence.
This is where gaps tend to appear. Practices that work internally may not be structured in a way that can be clearly demonstrated during an external review.
What auditors actually focus on
RJC certification is assessed at company level, which means the audit covers multiple functions at once.
In practice, auditors rely on three main elements:
documentation
staff interviews
observation of operations
The combination of these three creates a simple requirement: what is written, what is said, and what is done need to align.
When they don’t, even small inconsistencies can become findings.
→ See: RJC Certification: What Jewellery and Gemstone Exporters Should Prepare Before They Start
Where most exporters run into difficulty
Systems exist, but are not applied consistently
Many companies have already introduced policies and procedures before the audit. The difficulty often lies in how consistently these are followed across teams.
For example, supplier checks may be carried out in practice but not recorded in the same way each time. HR policies may be documented but not fully understood by employees. These inconsistencies tend to surface quickly during interviews.
Information is difficult to trace across the business
RJC places strong emphasis on traceability and due diligence across the supply chain.
In many cases, the information exists but is spread across departments, emails, or individual files. During an audit, retrieving this information in a clear and structured way can take time, and gaps become more visible under pressure.
Documentation does not reflect actual operations
A common situation is having well-written policies that do not fully match day-to-day practices.
Auditors usually test this by asking employees how processes are carried out and comparing their answers with documented procedures. Differences between the two are treated as gaps, even if the underlying practice is acceptable.
Responsibility is not clearly assigned
RJC requires clear ownership of different areas, from compliance and sourcing to HR and environmental management.
When responsibilities are shared informally or not clearly defined, coordination becomes more difficult. This often leads to delays in providing information during the audit and makes it harder to demonstrate control over processes.
What is often overlooked after the audit
The audit itself is only one stage in the certification cycle.
Once certification is granted, the same systems are expected to continue operating and be reviewed regularly. This includes:
maintaining records over time
updating supplier information
tracking internal practices
preparing for follow-up audits
When systems are built only for the audit, they tend to weaken over time. This creates additional work later and can affect the outcome of subsequent assessments.
Maintaining certification requires the same level of structure as preparing for it, with a focus on consistency rather than one-time completion.
A practical way to check your readiness
Before entering an audit, or even after starting preparation, it is useful to step back and assess how your systems would hold up under review.
The RJC Readiness Checklist is designed around how audits are actually conducted, including document review, staff interviews, and operational checks.
It helps identify:
where documentation may be incomplete
where practices are not consistently applied
where additional structure is needed before audit
This type of assessment often highlights issues early, when they are easier to address.
In short
RJC audits are manageable when systems are clear, consistent, and supported by evidence across the business.
For most exporters, the challenge is aligning existing practices so they can be demonstrated without hesitation during an audit and maintained over time.
Approaching the process with that in mind tends to reduce friction, both during certification and in the years that follow.
