What does my score mean?

The scoring has been adjusted to these changes accordingly, but the scoring methodology principles remain the same.

The 'Minimum Scope' is being introduced, which means when viewing your SAQ 5.0 results on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform, you will now see two bars on the scoring chart. The top bar will relate to your Minimum Score rating and will provide you with a 'grade' from A to F to indicate how well you have performed. The percentages/boundaries for these grades are:

A - GREEN 100%
B - GREEN 80% - 99%
C - AMBER 60% - 79%
D - AMBER 40% -59%
E - RED 20% -39%
F - RED under 20%

The other bar will show you the total score of the SAQ 5.0, as you have seen for SAQ 4.0.

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Use the search box in your dashboard to locate the now completed SAQ 5.0 whose answers you wish to look for
3. Select 'View'
4. Scroll further down to view the score you have received for your recent answers



Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

Do I have to complete the entire SAQ again?

No, you will not have to complete the entire SAQ again if you have completed the SAQ previously as all your previous answers that are relevant to the SAQ 5.0 will have been saved.

The SAQ 5.0 will incorporate new content to reflect the growing focus on environmental and human rights practices in the supply chain due to new legislation and the need for companies to demonstrate effective due diligence in this area. As you are updating your existing answers, you will see the new SAQ 5.0 (if applicable to you) whilst you are reviewing a mixture of both existing and new questions.

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Use the search box in your dashboard to locate the existing, completed questionnaire by searching with location details
3. Once located, select 'Update SAQ 5.0'
4. All your previous answers will be saved and you will be able to review and answer new SAQ 5.0 questions


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

Where can I find the SAQ 5.0?

For SAQs in the 'Completed' status you will find the new SAQ 5.0 answers by updating your existing SAQ. If you have not previously completed a questionnaire, you can start the new SAQ 5.0 from the dashboard.

For Completed SAQs your answer sheets will become SAQ 5.0 answer sheets and the displayed scores will be the scores you have achieved with SAQ 4.0. You will however see the letter 'U' before it, which stands for 'Unclassified'. This will only disappear once you update that SAQ, answer the new questions and expand your existing answers, after which you will receive your SAQ 5.0 score.

If you have an existing SAQ that you wish to update to the SAQ 5.0 version, follow the below steps:

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Use the search box in your dashboard to locate the existing, completed questionnaire by searching with location details
3. Once located, select 'Update SAQ 5.0'
4. All your previous answers will be saved and you will be able to review and answer new SAQ 5.0 questions

To start and share a new questionnaire with your invitation code:

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Select 'Enter invitation code' located underneath the 'Get started' link on the Dashboard
3. Enter the invitation code that you have received
4. Continue responding to your questionnaire and submit this for validation


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

Where do I upload my Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT)?

You can upload your CMRT template by responding to the SAQ 5.0 at reference 20c.

We have made it easier for you to upload your Conflict Minerals Reporting Template by simply responding to your SAQ 5.0. At reference 20 you are able to declare the 3TG minerals within your products. The Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) is a free, standardized reporting template developed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) that facilitates the transfer of information through the supply chain regarding mineral country origin and the smelters and refiners being utilized.

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Respond to your SAQ 5.0 and progress through the questions by selecting 'Next Question'
3. At reference 20, select the 3TG minerals contained within your products and select 'Next Question'
4. Respond to reference 20a, 20b and at reference 20c select 'Yes'
5. Select 'Choose file' and upload the latest version of your CMRT template in an XLSX format
6. Once completed, select 'Next Question' and submit your SAQ for validation


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

How long does the Validation process take?

The validation process will take up to 5 working days and you will be notified via email once the process has been completed.

Validation of SAQ questionnaires is part of the SUPPLIERASSURANCE process. We complete the validation of your SAQ 5.0 within 5 working days of its submission. During this time, you will not be able to modify your responses to the questionnaire. Once this process is complete, you will receive an Email notifying you of the validation result.

To view if your SAQ 5.0 has been submitted for validation, follow the below steps:

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Use the search box in your dashboard to locate the existing SAQ 5.0 by searching with location details
3. View your SAQ 5.0 status
4. Your SAQ 5.0 will remain in the 'Validating' stage until the Validation Process has been completed



Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.



Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

What is the 'Minimum Scope'?

SAQ 5.0 has been designed to be a modular assessment, where different minimum requirements are defined for different industries. These minimum requirements are referred to as 'Minimum Scope' and they will appear as questions that are mandatory for you to answer.

The SAQ 5.0 questionnaire will display the 'Minimum Scope' questions (i.e. mandatory questions) for the selected industry sector of each supplier. It will also show all the other questions (those outside of the Minimum Scope) which will be optional for suppliers to answer. Even though Suppliers will not be obliged to answer these questions, they will still contribute to their final/total SAQ score.

The Minimum Scope questions are ticked by default, cannot be unselected and will contribute to your Minimum Scope Rating.

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Respond to your SAQ 5.0 and progress to reference '0e'
3. You can select up to two categories that best describe your company's business area
4. At reference '0g' you will be able to view the Minimum Scope questions based on your selected industry and continue responding to your SAQ 5.0


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

How can I improve my SAQ 5.0 Rating?

You can improve your SAQ 5.0 rating by following the recommendations generated upon completion of your questionnaire, as well as the 'Declaration Gaps' provided by the validation team.

By ensuring you are responding to at least the Minimum Scope questions positively and covering all policy areas, you are able to continuously improve your results.
In addition, our trained Validation team will also declare gaps of evidence found within your documentation, but that has not been selected by you when you first responded to the SAQ 5.0. By following the 'Declaration gaps' and updating your results to reflect these, you will be improving your SAQ 5.0 rating.

1. View the received email from the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform, sent to you once your SAQ 5.0 was validated
2. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
3. Locate the SAQ 5.0 you want to improve your score for
4. Select 'Update SAQ 5.0'
5. On the 'Save and view' answers page, edit the questions you wish to upload further documentation for
6. Review the policy area questions, to ensure you follow the declaration gaps and select those recommended topics
7. Progress within your SAQ 5.0 by selecting 'Next Question' and submit your SAQ 5.0 for validation


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

What are 'Declaration Gaps'?

If the Validation Team finds that the evidence you uploaded covers an answer option that was not selected by you then a 'declaration gap' will be raised to support you and make you aware of this.

This change has been introduced to support you when you have underrepresented your evidence and missed an opportunity to secure extra marks within the SAQ 5.0.
To receive the marks for the originally unticked answers, you will need to take action and update your SAQ based on the received 'declaration gap'. To do this, you will need to update your SAQ 5.0 and select the necessary answer option(s).

To view your 'Declaration gaps', follow the below steps:

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Use the search box in your dashboard to locate the existing SAQ 5.0 by searching with location details
3. Select 'View' and you will be taken to the SAQ results/answer page
4. Scroll further down, and you will be able to view your 'Declaration gaps' within the red notification box
5. To review the information in more detail for each 'Declaration gap', you can select each reference separately
6. To update your results and change your evidence, select 'Update SAQ' to improve your score
7. Select the areas found within your evidence following the 'Declaration gap' information and progress through the questions
8. Submit your SAQ 5.0 for validation so that your new responses can be validated and improve your score


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

I am the Assessor - How can I 'lock' my answers?

You are able to 'lock' your answers, once you have updated and completed your SAQ 5.0.

By enabling you to have more control over documents used as evidence in your SAQ declarations for multiple questionnaires within your organization, the answers and evidence you provide by completing the headquarters SAQ 5.0 can be locked once the documents have been approved by the validation team. You can decide how other SAQs within your organization are being answered, meaning, the same answers will be applied to any new and updated SAQs of your organization.

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Use the search box in your dashboard to locate the now completed SAQ 5.0 marked as your headquarters location
3. Select 'View'
4. Scroll further down to view your previously given answers for individual questions
5. Select the arrow pointing upwards, on the left-hand side of the category name to expand and view all answers
6. View each answer and select 'Lock HQ template answer'
7. A notification will appear for you to confirm your choice of locking the answer or to set the question to be editable
8. To lock your answer, select 'Lock'


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

How can I 'Unlock' my HQ template answer?

You can 'Unlock' your selected answers by selecting 'Unlock HQ template answer'.

By 'Unlocking' your answers, you are allowing these set questions to be answered by users in a different manner. By enabling you to have more control over documents used as evidence in your SAQ declarations for multiple questionnaires within your organization, the answers and evidence you provide by completing one SAQ 5.0 can be locked once the documents have been approved by the validation team. You can decide how other SAQs within your organization are being answered, meaning, the same answers will be applied to any new and updated SAQs of your organization.

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Use the search box in your dashboard to locate the now completed SAQ 5.0 whose answers you wish to 'unlock'
3. Select 'View'
4. Scroll further down to view your previously given answers for individual questions
5. Select the arrow pointing upwards, on the left-hand side of the category name to expand and view all answers
6. At the question you 'locked' the answer for, select 'Unlock HQ template answer'
7. A notification will appear for you to confirm your choice of 'unlocking' the selected answer
8. To 'Unlock' your answer, select 'Unlock'


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

Is it mandatory for me to complete the SAQ 5.0?

For some customers, completing the SAQ 5.0 is a mandatory request for any existing or future relationships. If you have received an invitation, it is because one of your customers would like you to complete the SAQ 5.0 or share an existing SAQ 5.0 that you or someone from your organization has already completed in the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform.

By responding and completing the request your customer invited you for, you demonstrate your commitment to your customer and to their sustainability program and can therefore enhance your reputation within the customer organization. This request may also be a mandatory requirement as part of the customer's supplier selection process or for compliance management and reporting purposes.

SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Select 'Enter invitation code' located underneath the 'Get started' link on the Dashboard
3. Enter the invitation code that you have received
4. Continue responding to your SAQ 5.0 and submit this for validation


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

Where do I upload my Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT)?

You can upload your EMRT template by responding to the SAQ 5.0 at reference 20d.

The Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT) is a free, standardized reporting template developed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative to identify pinch points and collect due diligence information in the cobalt and mica supply chains. This is a new release that was formally launched on October 20, 2021.

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Respond to your SAQ 5.0 and progress through the questions by selecting 'Next Question'
3. At reference 20, select 'Cobalt' if this is contained within your products and select 'Next Question'
4. Respond to reference 20a, 20b, 20c and at reference 20d select 'Yes'
5. Select 'Choose file' and upload the latest version of your EMRT template in an XLSX format
6. Once completed, select 'Next Question' and submit your SAQ for validation


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

Why has my SAQ got a 'U' score?

The 'U' stands for 'Unclassified' and displays the score you have achieved for the SAQ 4.0.

For Completed SAQs your answers will become SAQ 5.0 answers and the displayed scores will be the scores you have achieved with SAQ 4.0. You will however see a letter 'U' before it, which stands for 'Unclassified'. This will only disappear once you update that SAQ, answer the new questions and expand your existing answers, after which you will receive your SAQ 5.0 score.

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Use the search box in your dashboard to locate the existing, completed questionnaire by searching with location details
3. Once located, select 'Update SAQ 5.0'
4. All your previous answers will be saved and you will be able to review and answer new SAQ 5.0 questions



Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

Why can I not edit some questions?

Some questions may have been locked by the Assessor who is the owner of the headquarters SAQ template.

By enabling organizations to have more control over documents used as evidence in their SAQ declarations for multiple questionnaires within their organization, the answers and evidence provided by completing one SAQ 5.0 have been locked by the Assessor. The documents have been approved by the validation team and locked for all other users to use. By then responding to your SAQ 5.0, the locked answers will be populated as a 'read-only' option for your SAQ 5.0 response. The Assessor can also set 'Suggested answers' for you to use for your SAQ 5.0 response.

Should you have any questions in regards to the provided evidence, you will be able to contact the Assessor directly.

To respond to your SAQ 5.0 using the 'locked' suggestions, follow the below steps:

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Respond to your SAQ 5.0 and progress through the questions by selecting 'Next Question'
3. You will be able to see the locked answers as a 'read-only' option, enabling your company to share the same evidence on a company level
4. Continue progressing within your SAQ 5.0 and reviewing location-specific questions, as you may have to upload location certificates for these editable questions
5. Progress within your SAQ 5.0 by selecting 'Next Question' and submit your SAQ 5.0 for validation


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

What are 'Gaps'?

One or more 'Gaps' may be raised by the Validating team if one or more pieces of evidence you have provided do not meet the criteria. For every Gap you may receive, a reason for rejection will be provided to support you with what is missing or requires to be amended.

An email will be sent to you directly as soon as the Validation Process has been completed. You will be asked to check your SAQ 5.0 response and are able to change the evidence or the answer for the question(s). If you would like to review the SAQ guidance and acceptable evidence, you will be able to find this information next to each question of your SAQ 5.0.

To view your 'Gaps', follow the below steps:

1. Sign in to your account on the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform
2. Use the search box in your dashboard to locate the existing SAQ 5.0 by searching with location details
3. Select 'View' and you will be taken to the SAQ results/answer page
4. Scroll further down, and you will be able to view your Gaps within the red notification box
5. To review the information in more detail for each Gap, you can select each reference separately
6. To update your results and change your evidence, select 'Update SAQ to improve your score'
7. Exchange the documentation filling the Gap information and progress through the questions
8. Submit your SAQ 5.0 for validation so that your new evidence can be validated


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

What's changed in SAQ 5.0?

The Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ 5.0) has now been enhanced to ensure it meets the diverse needs of global supply chains. The update introduced a more adaptable and modular assessment structure, ensuring that the SAQ remains inclusive and relevant for suppliers across all sectors and sizes.

The SAQ 5.0 assessment process focuses on the specific operations of different supplier types, reducing unnecessary complexity for non-production and service-based suppliers.

Suppliers will answer tailored questions based on their site's headcount and industry sector using NACE® standards.

Mandatory Questions: These will directly contribute to the SAQ 5.0 rating.
Optional Questions and Answers: These will provide additional insights but will not influence the SAQ 5.0 rating.

For a comprehensive overview of the SAQ 5.0 update, including key changes, enhancements, and their impact, you can access recordings of briefings delivered as part of the launch in their respective languages, by following the links below.

English
Deutsch
Français
Italiano
Português
Español
日本語
中文


If you have already completed an SAQ and want to understand how modularity may impact your results when you decide to update your SAQ responses, you can download the briefing presentation in their respective languages, by following the links below. The presentation outlines which NACE codes are impacted and explains how this influences the routing through the SAQ and the associated scoring.


English
Deutsch
Français
Italiano
Português
Español
日本語
中文


Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.

Access previous recordings of our SAQ 5.0 briefings

Please note the SAQ 5.0 as described in these briefings is no longer the latest version. To read more about the SAQ 5.0 updated with the modularity, please check the related FAQ.

To support the introduction of SAQ 5.0, SUPPLIERASSURANCE hosted a series of online briefings to provide a detailed overview of the changes from SAQ 4.0 to SAQ 5.0 and to guide suppliers on how to best prepare for the update. The briefings were conducted in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for all platform users.
You can access the recordings in the respective languages by following the links below. Please note the recording length is approximately 1 hour.

English
Deutsch
Português
Español
日本語
中文


Additionally, you can download the presentation used during the briefings to get an overview of the key changes between SAQ 4.0 and SAQ 5.0, in the respective languages below. For further clarification, our FAQ page addresses common questions regarding the SAQ 5.0 update.

English
Deutsch
Português
Español
日本語
中文

Updating your SAQ 4.0 answers to SAQ 5.0
To assist you in the transition to SAQ 5.0, you can download a Presentation outlining the process of updating SAQ 4.0 responses to SAQ 5.0. This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough of the update process within the SUPPLIERASSURANCE platform, complete with detailed screenshots for each stage.

Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to use our Live Web Chat for immediate support. This feature is available 24 hours a day to provide you with guidance and support.