Audit Horror Stories

MichelleD

Involved In Discussions
#31
I think the auditor should have taken your certificate off the wall and taken it home. I came close at least one time. I had the cert lying on the conference room table at the closing meeting due to some continuing problems. I had heard the President had commented that I wouldn't pull it because no registrar wants to lose business. Top Management was much more attentive when they saw that, and I informed them I had already arranged permission with my office to bring it home...:notme:
I totally agree. I was hoping they would but the management that approved that little venture was let go and I was already looking for another job at the time so that gave me the push I needed. Not the kind of company you want to be associated with. The auditor went back three months later (from what I hear) and walked all over the place to make sure that nothing was being hidden.
 
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Helmut Jilling

Auditor / Consultant
#32
I totally agree. I was hoping they would but the management that approved that little venture was let go and I was already looking for another job at the time so that gave me the push I needed. Not the kind of company you want to be associated with. The auditor went back three months later (from what I hear) and walked all over the place to make sure that nothing was being hidden.
Excellent to hear! Also, kudos to the auditor for going the extra mile.
 

Sidney Vianna

Post Responsibly
Staff member
Admin
#33
I think the auditor should have taken your certificate off the wall and taken it home. I came close at least one time. I had the cert lying on the conference room table at the closing meeting due to some continuing problems. I had heard the President had commented that I wouldn't pull it because no registrar wants to lose business. Top Management was much more attentive when they saw that, and I informed them I had already arranged permission with my office to bring it home...
While that makes for interesting reading, I would like to offer a word of caution. Certification Bodies have to follow established processes (and procedures) for de-certification proceedings. Just like a lead auditor does not issue certificates on the spot, they are not (normally) authorized to de-certify a registrant at will. There should be an escalation process with appropriate review at the CB managerial levels before a certificate is revoked.

Years ago a north-american CB filed a lawsuit against RAB (at that time) for failure to follow established procedures when of their AS9100 accreditation suspension. They settled out of court, eventually.

A CB who does not follow their own established processes for de-certification proceedings would be inviting a legal action, as well. So be careful out there, CB auditors, before you start yanking the certificates from the lobby wall. :cool:
 

Helmut Jilling

Auditor / Consultant
#34
While that makes for interesting reading, I would like to offer a word of caution. Certification Bodies have to follow established processes (and procedures) for de-certification proceedings. Just like a lead auditor does not issue certificates on the spot, they are not (normally) authorized to de-certify a registrant at will. There should be an escalation process with appropriate review at the CB managerial levels before a certificate is revoked.

Years ago a north-american CB filed a lawsuit against RAB (at that time) for failure to follow established procedures when of their AS9100 accreditation suspension. They settled out of court, eventually.

A CB who does not follow their own established processes for de-certification proceedings would be inviting a legal action, as well. So be careful out there, CB auditors, before you start yanking the certificates from the lobby wall. :cool:
Thanks, that is a valid reminder. The registrar has a formal procedure that would have been followed, but the theatrics were for dramatic effect, and it made the point pretty well.
 

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#35
OK - my turn. Our company was one of those that would rent a trailer before the audit to hide the products, documents, etc. that they didn't want the auditor to see.

The day of the audit dawned bright and clear and the auditors showed up to begin the audit. They wanted a site tour to include the outside of the building just to get a look at how everything was layed out. At the same time they were outside, a supervisor took a few last minute items out to the trailer to hide. The auditors probably wouldn't have noticed it but the supervisor fell out of the trailer and broke his leg. Needless to say, the auditors came running over to where the guy fell and saw a trailer loaded with printed circuits boards.

Nobody was a happy camper at the end of this audit.
Or happy hiker, either, I'll bet!;)
Thanks, that is a valid reminder. The registrar has a formal procedure that would have been followed, but the theatrics were for dramatic effect, and it made the point pretty well.
Thanks for confirming what I thought - just a piece of "stage business," because I was pretty sure the rules for certifying and accrediting bodies provide for "due process."
 

Helmut Jilling

Auditor / Consultant
#36
...Thanks for confirming what I thought - just a piece of "stage business," because I was pretty sure the rules for certifying and accrediting bodies provide for "due process."
Oh, a little dramatic perhaps, but I was fully prepared to take the cert with me. Then the registrar would have gone through the regular process to decertify and delist them.
 
B

Bob Bonville

#37
How about this one:
At a Honeywell facility back east, contracted to the undersea Navy, we were hosting a group of auditors from the Fleet Assessment Center (FLTAC). A total of about 20 auditors in total.

We set up a special area for them with desks and phones in preparation for their 2 week long visit.

The desks were recommissioned from our warehouse, cleaned up and equipped as best we could for the Navy's marathon assessment.

The lead auditor upon selecting his desk and trying out his chair for relative comfort, proceeded to open his desk drawers at which point he found a bag of electrical components with absolutely no identification on them. He immediately held up the bag and announced to the team that he had discovered his first finding.

I guess you can assume how the rest of the 2 weeks went.

Bob
 
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