Is it advisable or is it a requirement to send a Supplier an audit plan prior to conducting an audit at their premises. If yes, would it not give the supplier the opportunity to prepare and concentrate on and/or rectify any issues which would be visible to the auditor.

Is it advisable or is it a requirement to send a Supplier an audit plan prior to conducting an audit at their premises. If yes, would it not give the supplier the opportunity to prepare and concentrate on and/or rectify any issues which would be visible to the auditor.

I don't know much about aerospace issues, but in general it's a good idea to let the supplier know what to expect. You can do this in the form of an agenda for the visit. If the supplier cleans some stuff up in anticipation of your visit, isn't that a good thing?

I would always recommend an audit plan. It helps the auditor to run the audit in an organised manner and to avoid missing anything out.

It is also very important that the auditee organisation knows which departments you will be in, which order they will be visited and for how long. This is especially important on a multiple day audit where it is unreasonable to expect everyone to be available for audit for a couple of days just in case you choose to visit them - they still have a business to run.

As for them being prepared, you will only be telling them which departments and which order - not which records and documents you will be checking. Besides, if they can fix things so easily, there can't be a lot wrong.

Is it advisable or is it a requirement to send a Supplier an audit plan prior to conducting an audit at their premises. If yes, would it not give the supplier the opportunity to prepare and concentrate on and/or rectify any issues which would be visible to the auditor.

I agree with Jim. As supplier, I expect my customer give their Audit Plans and audit checklist so that we can meet their expectations in a timely manner.

Why would you want to mistrust the supplier when you need to partner with them on a long term basis, isnt it :)

Is it advisable or is it a requirement to send a Supplier an audit plan prior to conducting an audit at their premises. If yes, would it not give the supplier the opportunity to prepare and concentrate on and/or rectify any issues which would be visible to the auditor.

The answer is simple and obvious - would you like it if you are the supplier?

Definitely send a plan! I agree with ^^^ posters, that any problem they can quickly fix is not likely to be a major cause of concern. Don't we all tidy up our areas and get all our documents in order before someone audits us? :o

You can tell them the general areas you wish to cover and that will help them plan your visit. Because depending on what they produce and the environment in which they make it, it could require certain safety precautions for you to visit or they may have to make other arrangements.

Thanks All

Yes, that makes sense.

Yup, you don't want to do 'gotcha audits'! Noel Edmonds might have made people laugh (with the Gotcha Ocars) but it's no laughing matter for an auditor!

So as much as you can, involve them in the planning and preparation. It eases the tension that can build before the audit, it make you look a hero and it will be a better all around!

Note as an example that the FDA publishes its universal audit plan (for all but For Cause and emergency audits) in considerable detail, in the "Guide to Inspections of Quality Systems" and the internal-use guidance document "Inspection of Medical Device Manufacturers".