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I get what the OP is asking and their is a distinctive and definite interest. Bearhk by bringing up the defined difference was closest. You have two audit disciplines - QMS audit, and internal audit. Both are "internal audits" but they serve different functions.
QMS audit - These audits are limited in scope. The main function is to verify a set of prescribed guidelines, usually ISO. Because ISO is so specialized, a business (my company for instance) will have a seperate QMS/ISO audit function.
Internal Audit - if you are a publicly traded company, with business in the US, you have an internal audit function. Trust me QMS auditors, you do, even if you don't know it. It is required by Sarbenes-Oxley (SOX). The scope is much more broad, not only finance - but the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, verification of internal control, compliance with laws and regulations, safegaurding of assets. Their focus is not on a set of prescribed guidelines - but added value to the company. Some of it may indeed overlap into QMS. However, QMS audit is merely a tiny component of the broad "internal audit" landscape. Again using my company as an example - we will audit QMS auditors to make sure they are doing their job.
Another example to point out - the scope of my IA certification (issued by the Institiue of Internal Auditors) included business law, finance, statistics, ethics, fraud training, etc, and covered 5 exams taking a half day each - Certified Internal Auditor. The failure rate rivals CPA exams. My QMS "lead auditor" training certification class, in contrast, was a joke - open book test at the end of a week session. I don't think anyone failed.
QMS audit - These audits are limited in scope. The main function is to verify a set of prescribed guidelines, usually ISO. Because ISO is so specialized, a business (my company for instance) will have a seperate QMS/ISO audit function.
Internal Audit - if you are a publicly traded company, with business in the US, you have an internal audit function. Trust me QMS auditors, you do, even if you don't know it. It is required by Sarbenes-Oxley (SOX). The scope is much more broad, not only finance - but the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, verification of internal control, compliance with laws and regulations, safegaurding of assets. Their focus is not on a set of prescribed guidelines - but added value to the company. Some of it may indeed overlap into QMS. However, QMS audit is merely a tiny component of the broad "internal audit" landscape. Again using my company as an example - we will audit QMS auditors to make sure they are doing their job.
Another example to point out - the scope of my IA certification (issued by the Institiue of Internal Auditors) included business law, finance, statistics, ethics, fraud training, etc, and covered 5 exams taking a half day each - Certified Internal Auditor. The failure rate rivals CPA exams. My QMS "lead auditor" training certification class, in contrast, was a joke - open book test at the end of a week session. I don't think anyone failed.
