Why are there two cost per day figures?

The planned basis spreads the total over every day you are paying for, while the scoped basis spreads it over only the days that touch the audit scope. Travel and reporting cost sits in both, so they differ.

What is a loaded auditor day rate?

Wages, benefits, overhead and any per-diem the auditor carries, all divided by billable audit days. Use the rate your supplier quality group is charged, not a bare salary figure.

How do I pick the audit scope share?

Start from the elements the audit procedure requires and estimate the fraction the visit can cover with the days planned. A focused surveillance visit usually covers less than a full qualification audit.

What belongs in fixed travel and reporting cost?

Flights, lodging, ground transport, meals and the hours to write the report and close findings. It is booked once per visit, so it does not fall when the scope share drops.

Nuclear & Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing calculator

Qualified Supplier Audit Cost Calculator

Price a supplier qualification or surveillance audit from planned auditor-days, the loaded day rate, the share of scope covered and fixed travel. The result reports planned-day and scoped-day unit costs on separate bases so neither hides the other.

What this calculator does

Loaded cost of a supplier audit from planned auditor-days, day rate, scope share and fixed travel, with both per-day bases.

Formula used

Scoped auditor-days = auditor-days planned × audit scope share ÷ 100
Variable audit cost = auditor-days planned × loaded auditor day rate × audit scope share ÷ 100
Total audit cost = variable audit cost + fixed travel and reporting cost
Audit cost per planned day = total audit cost ÷ auditor-days planned, blank at zero
Audit cost per scoped day = total audit cost ÷ scoped auditor-days, blank at zero

Inputs explained

Auditor-Days Planned: Auditor-days booked for the audit visit.
Loaded Auditor Day Rate: Fully loaded cost of one auditor-day.
Audit Scope Share: Share of the audit scope the days cover.
Fixed Travel and Reporting Cost: Travel, lodging and reporting cost for the audit.

How to use the result

Best suited to budgeting a supplier qualification audit, comparing planned and scoped day costs, sizing a surveillance visit before travel booking.
A second visit triggered by findings is not included in these days. Multi-site tours mix different travel and day rates that one average hides.

Common questions

Why are there two cost per day figures? The planned basis spreads the total over every day you are paying for, while the scoped basis spreads it over only the days that touch the audit scope. Travel and reporting cost sits in both, so they differ.
What is a loaded auditor day rate? Wages, benefits, overhead and any per-diem the auditor carries, all divided by billable audit days. Use the rate your supplier quality group is charged, not a bare salary figure.
How do I pick the audit scope share? Start from the elements the audit procedure requires and estimate the fraction the visit can cover with the days planned. A focused surveillance visit usually covers less than a full qualification audit.
What belongs in fixed travel and reporting cost? Flights, lodging, ground transport, meals and the hours to write the report and close findings. It is booked once per visit, so it does not fall when the scope share drops.

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.