hi,
I audit some suppliers for my company, so I think my point of view could be a bit of interest
1) before an audit I ask a questionnaire with the main points - I can also ask some key documents as the quality manual
2) for the audit I require all the documents but I don't see the interest to get back all the files, either by mail or by paper. When you are used to audit you 'feel' some gaps by crosschecking info at different steps & levels with a right preparation, and you don't need to bring back 100 files. Anyway an audit is a 'picture' - unless you spend several months (et encore!) you won't be able to cover all the points
3) before leaving I need to have the ok/ not ok from the supplier on actions. I approve or not my supplier depending on several criterias among them the level of confidence I have. As I audit regularly my suppliers I can follow their reliability from 1 audit to another one
4) Caz, yes this is boring to wait for the audit report - and I just can not understand why some auditors need so many time (I've been ...audited last October and no report yet!), but this is also really boring not to receive the action plan from the supplier within the time requested
Last, I think that the way you work with your supplier - or your customer - really depends on the vision you have about the business : either you look for the best prices at the right time, so you don't really care relations when you audit, or you select suppliers in a medium/long-term vision and relationships are not the same at all. I consider that I'm lucky to work in a company which choose the last option