How to prepare your company for an audit

Q

QEC1989

#11
This all depends on how your company is structured and how the MR fits into that structure with respect to responsibility, authority and communication. (section 5.5).
It's each company's case, it's relative to who primarily drives this to being accomplsied.
In my particular case, its the MR, (me). If I'm filling my role correctly, I sure would expect a "production operator" to answer correctly if asked.

The intention of the question from the external auditor's perspective is reasonable. That being..."Is this company making people aware of the Management Rep. and what they do?"
That's evidence of Internal Communication, (or lack of it).
 
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G

gooofii

#13
In my particular case, its the MR, (me). If I'm filling my role correctly, I sure would expect a "production operator" to answer correctly if asked.

The intention of the question from the external auditor's perspective is reasonable. That being..."Is this company making people aware of the Management Rep. and what they do?"
That's evidence of Internal Communication, (or lack of it).
I agree with that. if the operator -or any employee- does not know his/her MR, this reflects a week link and bad communication between the managing and production. for example, in our industry to reduce from this, I suggest in one of the QM procedures to make a ''comment sheet'' which will be available for all the operators to write there comments and if there any improvement could be done to make the job easier. Then periodically, a meeting is held between the D&D dept. with the factory management and the production operators to discuss about that. I believe that this aswell is a motivation for the employees...:2cents:
 
B

Bob the QE

#15
Here is the last memo we put out, I would suggest that if there are FAQ that are specific hicups for your company include them and design it to meet your needs. The intent is to ease the stress people may feel. In one org. we had these memos (we did this before all internal and registration audits) in Spanish as well for our non-English speaking staff.

Good luck
 

Attachments

#16
To tell you the truth, you'd be better off making sure your management know their stuff. In all the years I spent auditing and implementing, the folks on the shop are the last ones you have to worry about. Don't forget, this is their world, their work and most, the majority, are really good at what they do!!

The danger is in the layers of management who are weak on certain areas of what they should know about the QMS. I've coached management in the past in their roles as process owners and, once they get the chance to 'sing' for the auditor, everything else becomes a 'cakewalk'.

Don't forget (and I think sometimes the auditors do) this is a Management System, so the Management should know how it works........
 

Randy

Super Moderator
#17
How to prepare a company for an audit? Interesting but troubling as a question goes........I'll respond with a statement.

If an organization has to "prepare" for an audit then apparently the management system in question has not been "effectively" implemented and/or it is not being "effectively" maintained. Organizations whose management systems are "effective" do not have to expend the resources or take the time to "prepare" because they are able to be audited at any time due to their "effectiveness": They're doing what they need to do on a continual basis and do not have to play catch-up.

The OP's statement about preparing is objective evidence that the system lacks effectiveness in its implementation.

The OP's statement about "management support" may be providing evidence that it had to be sought and that "commitment" may not be valid. There should never be a second thought about management if it is truly commited to the process.
 

Stijloor

Staff member
Super Moderator
#18
How to prepare a company for an audit? Interesting but troubling as a question goes........I'll respond with a statement.

If an organization has to "prepare" for an audit then apparently the management system in question has not been "effectively" implemented and/or it is not being "effectively" maintained. Organizations whose management systems are "effective" do not have to expend the resources or take the time to "prepare" because they are able to be audited at any time due to their "effectiveness": They're doing what they need to do on a continual basis and do not have to play catch-up.

The OP's statement about preparing is objective evidence that the system lacks effectiveness in its implementation.

The OP's statement about "management support" may be providing evidence that it had to be sought and that "commitment" may not be valid. There should never be a second thought about management if it is truly commited to the process.
I absolutely agree with you Randy, but you have been around long enough to know that virtually all organizations "prepare" for an internal- and certainly for an external audit. Similar to me flossing like crazy before my semi-annual dental check up....;)

Stijloor.
 

Sidney Vianna

Post Responsibly
Staff member
Admin
#19
Please spare me the management buy in and all that. As a company we are preparedand I have full management support. SNIP
I am not meaning to offend anyone, but I know some people like to use the cove as their own soapbox to preach to people how wrong your company is if your not doing it their way.
People are not paying attention...:notme:
 
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