Definitions for Minor & Major Nonconformances

[Big Jim]

AS9101D provides a definition that AS9100C certification body auditors need to use when performing AS9100C certification body audits. It does vary slightly from what Marc outlined.

When I'm performing internal audits I follow the protocol that Marc outlined unless the auditee has other definitions.

I do sort of feel that for internal auditors there is no real need to classify them. Many internal auditors struggle with it.

 

[luis.armendariz]

Thanks all for your information, I also read the topics shown below and the answer is now clear for me!

Best Regards

 

[Colin]

I won't disagree with those saying not to differentiate, but then again one needs to be able to classify findings if only to decide which (if any) need "significant" corrective actions. As a couple others here have said, it really doesn't matter what you call them, but there must be some sort of way to decide which findings are of importance (sometimes a finding is critical) and which are not.

I agree that there are some findings which are more critical than others so I use the timeframe within which they are to be resolved in order to determine their criticality.

 

[John Broomfield]

Usually, though, it is for the auditee to decide the criticality of nonconformity as part of their risk management applied to their corrective action.

 

[somashekar]

There isn't one because the standard wants the establishments to take corrective actions appropriate to the effects of the nonconformities encountered...
Same goes with the preventive action...
(Pls see the ISO9001 standard - CA PA)
The requirement is to take action without undue delay to eliminate detected nonconformities and their causes.
(pls see the ISO9001 standard - Internal audit)
We know about Major and Minor for we see the CB use it. But they use it following a different guidelines established for CB's...
Do not copycat CB's in this.
Learn auditing techniques and methods they use to improve depth of internal auditing.
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..
...
If you still wish to classify, I have 3 types for you.
1. System is not defined
2. System implementation failure
3. Procedure and practice not effective
These may give you some guideline about effect of the nonconformity, to take up appropriate corrective action.

 

[TWA - not the airline]

Without proper risk management and root cause analysis I do not think you can tell how critical an audit finding (internal, external, whatever) would actually be. A small lapse might mean that defective product has been shipped and life and health of people is a stake. On the other hand if your system lacks a formal design control procedure you'll have a major observation that prevents you from getting approval and marketing a product that could be (technically) almost perfect. So I guess regarding decisions and actions any classification from the auditor will only get you so far...