Internal Auditing Processes - Example or Explaination

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ntmkolich

Hello
I'm looking for some ways of perfoming internal audits. My intial thoughts are to generate 3 forms for: 1.) System Element Audits, 2.) Product Element Audits, 3.) Improvement Element Audits. Am I on the right track???
Also, I've looked at the achives for samples on internal audits, but did not have any luck. Any idea on where I might find some thing????

Thanks Nick
 
D

db

ntmkolich said:
Hello
I'm looking for some ways of perfoming internal audits. My intial thoughts are to generate 3 forms for: 1.) System Element Audits, 2.) Product Element Audits, 3.) Improvement Element Audits. Am I on the right track???
Also, I've looked at the achives for samples on internal audits, but did not have any luck. Any idea on where I might find some thing????

Thanks Nick
Click to expand...

Hey Nick! Welcome to the Cove (from us Trolls). :bigwave:

I'm not certain you need three separate forms (checklists perhaps), but if that is what you intend to do, you might want to make one out for auditing the process. System audits are still useful, but ISO 9K2K is clearly process-based, and your audits should reflect that.

As far as samples, are you looking for sample checklists, sample procedures, or what? That could help us better.
 
G

gpainter

Quite Involved in Discussions
Check out the book "How to Audit ISO 9001:2000" by Chad Kymal ISBN 0-9713231-1-9. This method combines the elemental approach with the systematic approach.
 
Randy

Randy

Super Moderator
ntmkolich said:
Hello
I'm looking for some ways of perfoming internal audits. My intial thoughts are to generate 3 forms for: 1.) System Element Audits, 2.) Product Element Audits, 3.) Improvement Element Audits. Am I on the right track???
Also, I've looked at the achives for samples on internal audits, but did not have any luck. Any idea on where I might find some thing????

Thanks Nick
Click to expand...

1st of all I see that you are fairly new, so Welcome :bigwave:

Now that I've been nice I can proceed.

Why not take an Internal Auditor course? If you are going for a registration cert and if (big IF) your registrar auditors are any good they are going to ask about IA competency. If you can't show that your auditors have been trained, that they are competent my suggestion is "don't waste your time".

For quick information as to how an audit program should be established, conducted and on auditor competence/qualification I suggest you get a copy of ISO19011:2002 "Guidelines for quality and/or environmental auditing" at a minimum.

You Internal Audit is the single most important process of your management system, scrimp there and the rest will falter. I guarantee it.
 
Claes Gefvenberg

Claes Gefvenberg

Admin
ntmkolich said:
Hello
I'm looking for some ways of perfoming internal audits. My intial thoughts are to generate 3 forms for: 1.) System Element Audits, 2.) Product Element Audits, 3.) Improvement Element Audits. Am I on the right track???
Also, I've looked at the achives for samples on internal audits, but did not have any luck. Any idea on where I might find some thing????

Thanks Nick
Click to expand...
Hello Nick,

My forms are all in swedish, so I won't be of much help there, but welcome to the Cove :bigwave: .

/Claes
 
Randy

Randy

Super Moderator
You should set your audits to audit by process.

You should be auditing from the git-go, don't wait until you think the system is complete and running.

Audit what you do against "your" requirements.

Audit "your" requirements against the standard.

Don't use some standardized checklist to do your Internal Audit. Standardized checklists can only get you so far. Look at you procedures and check against them. If you say you are going to keep a record look for the record, see if it being made correctly, managed correctly, filled out by appropriate personnel. Audit in this fashion.
 
R

Rob Nix

I agree, Randy.

Our auditing system has evolved along those lines. We started out with audit checklists, but after awhile most questions became redundant ("do you have a procedure for....?", "where are records kept for...?").

Then we began auditing to our own requirements, procedure by procedure, to see if they were being followed.

We dropped our "rating" system for questions in the questionnaire. Either there is an inadequacy of the process or there is not.

Finally, we dropped the questionnaire and began an essay type interviewing system based on the processes selected for each audit cycle. We just ask questions of people responsible for the process and ask for some evidence as needed. Then we check their typical actions to our internal requirements. Corrective action is required where there are lapses.

Now we are looking at incorporating employee suggestions (e.g. what would help you eliminate waste or improve your effectiveness) as part of the interview/audit process. :p
 
Randy

Randy

Super Moderator
Good Lord, you actually know what to do!!!!! I'll bet you also value prevention more than correction (pro-active over reactive) don't you?
 
R

Rob Nix

If you mean telling my wife the dress looks great on her rather than having to buy flowers and eat out, then yes.
 
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