What is a key outcome of a second-party audit?

A second-party audit primarily focuses on assessing the performance and compliance of suppliers or vendors with specific requirements. The key outcome of conducting such an audit is verifying that the supplier meets the contractual obligations and adheres to necessary standards and regulations. This process helps ensure that the materials or services provided align with quality expectations and organizational needs.

In this context, while identifying areas for employee training is important, it typically falls under the scope of internal audits rather than second-party audits. Gaining insights into competitor strategies does not align with the purpose of a second-party audit, as it is more about internal processes and supplier relationships rather than competitive analysis. Assessing customer satisfaction levels is also unrelated, as this focus pertains more to direct customer feedback mechanisms, not supplier evaluation. Therefore, verifying supplier conformity to requirements clearly stands out as the fundamental outcome of a second-party audit.