An Internal Auditor Quit - What can I do?

[Fire Girl]

Hello all.

I am a little peeved. One of my internal auditors quit. I had a feeling she might. She's currently involved in a bit of a political thing with management. She hasn't really been doing her audits (i've noticed). But she leaves me in a bit of a bind because the other 2 auditors are the quality manager and I. We can't audit the areas we give to the Quitter because we are responsible for them. What can I do? I have a maintenance audit in a couple of months. I know that I have to train another auditor, but meanwhile back at the ranch....

Any suggestions?

[Marc]

See if your local ASQ chapter has an audit consortium and see if someone from there needs audit hours or simply contract it out.

If there is a time element that is borderline where you think you can get someone trained but the audit will be a month or two late - call your registrar and see if they'll 'be understanding'.

8.2.2 does not set a requirement for 1 year audit minimums - QS-9000 does. Whilst some auditors might try to attack you citing another clause - don't let them. There is no set audit frequency. It is quite normal for audits to be postponed for one reason or another.

Some thoughts on this can be found at http://Elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=2390

Another good one is http://Elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=2392

Another thread you might find enlightening is http://Elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=2296

One specifically on schedules is http://Elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=2257

[JRKH]

Firegirl,

How have your previous maintenance audits gone? If the areas she audited have a pretty good history, then I don't think you should have too much trouble. Just explain the situation to the auditors.

Is there someone else in the company sho can step up (at least temporarily) and do the audits? It has been my experience that most, reasonably intelligent people can be taught the basics of a process audit in a fairly short time.

I'm sure others will have better input, but I hope this helps.

James

Fire Girl,

Remember one thing, internal audit can be done by an outside auditor. Nowhere does it say the internal auditor must be employed within the company.

If you are in Ontario I am close to you and could help you if you e-mail me.

I have encountereed many companies that are contracting internal audit due to the pressure of taking time from employees that are better used in other areas of their expertise.

Even an internal auditor has a "built in" bias in my opinion.

Say I am the internal auditor and my best friend is the manufacturing manager, how much bias is going to influence the audit. At best zero, but usually a certain percentage.

Hope this helps!

Fire Girl,

Maybe I can drive up from Connecticut to help on your audits
Anything to help out a "buddy"
Then again, maybe not.
Select from within. Give them a short quiz. Like, what's your name, Anyway? Do dogs bark? Do bears .... in the woods? What's down the road, a piece? No, all kidding aside: It's management's problem. Someone has to step up. Post for volunteers and you may get a surprise. Failing that, Mgt. has to "appoint" the lucky candidate.

[Fire Girl]

energy

Where are you? I've been waiting for 2 days for you to come and help me audit!! You'd better be here soon........ or else you'll have to be punished....

I know it's managements problem, but I still have to be the one to explain to my auditor why audits are not completed or why they are behind or whatever. Believe me, when I have an auditor in the house, my management team is goodness knows where.

Oh well. I guess I'll just suck it up and come up with something.

Later.

Peace out.
Fire Girl

Fire Starter
In my previous life, I worked in a place very similar to yours. It was a sheet metal stamping house fabricating brackets and stuff for the Aircraft industry. At one time we had 10 people trained, by an outside accredited institution (ha ha), but they were always too busy to do their assigned audits. I simply placed them on “reserve” when needed. We were able to conduct audits with half the people. They were actually hurt that they weren’t needed. Management did not give anybody the option of not becoming an auditor, they were assigned, but they also put product before the auditing and allowed the system to deteriorate to the point that all one had to say is that they were too busy for auditing and it was allowed. Take someone from your office with a good history for accuracy and “assign” them. After all, my understanding of ISO, is that it is everybody’s responsibility, not just yours. Take a load off, kick back and put your feet up on the desk and delegate, delegate-dance to the music!

[David Mullins]

A quick scan of the thread didn't reveal what I thought was the obvious answer.
The difference between 1994 and 2000 in auditing is that you are now given the latitude to audit your own area, just not your own work. Surely that allows you to cover the audit schedule until you get at least one more auditor.

If you get an external audit against 1994 then point out that you are moving towards the 2000 standard, it gives you that latitude to do this, plus you are following the resource requirements guff in the standard (get something recorded in some minutes so you can wave it in their faces as objective evidence that management has come to this solution). At worst they'd call it an observation.

Hope it helps.