Re: Measuring Internal Auditors Performance
I would say it's a requirement. The standard states that personnel performing work affecting conformity to product requirements shall be competent on the basis of appropriate education, training, skills and experience. I'd include auditors in there and can't see how auditor competence can be determined if there is no measure of performance / effectiveness. And a measure of their performance / effectiveness should take in the audit process as a whole, not just the closure of NC's.
For what it's worth, I've rarely seen this done effectively. If there is a significant sized audit team in place, I believe an annual appraisal (of sorts) should take place, reviewing performance and effectiveness. However, I've seen previous instances where there has been a reluctance to offer genuine constructive feedback to auditors - presumably for fear of causing offence or fear of leading people into giving up the auditor role. I guess much depends on the person but I'd much rather be given constructive feedback if it will help me improve. I guess a problem may arise when the Audit/Quality Manager has a number of part time auditors contributing - do you keep them sweet and keep them in the role or give genuine feedback and hope they take it on board and develop further without taking offence and quitting to concentrate on their full-time role? I'm with the latter scenario.
Again, good luck with it all.
Mick