Need suggestions for Top Management Preparedness for ISO 9001 surveillance audit

[C Emmons]

We are scheduled for a surveillance audit on Sept 2nd in our Corporate office. Previous audit have been mainly conducted in other facilities so Top Management has not been through many thorough audits. I am planning a meeting/discussion to help make sure these people are prepared. I am planning a generic presentation based on questions which may be posed regarding the processes for which they are responsible and generating a group discussion with questions answers. Looking for suggestions? Suggested formats? How have other people handled? Thanks in advance

 

[RoxaneB]

Maybe this will help...

Auditing the CEO

 

[qualitygoddess - 2010]

We are scheduled for a surveillance audit on Sept 2nd in our Corporate office. Previous audit have been mainly conducted in other facilities so Top Management has not been through many thorough audits. I am planning a meeting/discussion to help make sure these people are prepared. I am planning a generic presentation based on questions which may be posed regarding the processes for which they are responsible and generating a group discussion with questions answers. Looking for suggestions? Suggested formats? How have other people handled? Thanks in advance

Besides the previous posted thread regarding good advice about section 5 of the standard, I would suggest that you be certain the persons involved with the audit from corporate understand and know the goals and objectives for the various factories. Same for any open corrective actions or preventive actions that may be in progress for perhaps not meeting certain quality objectives. Based on my experience, the external auditors are going to want to know that your top management is watching the big picture!

 

[ddunn]

The auditors I have been with have also spent a lot of time discussing the Quality Policy with measureable objectives, the Quality Manual and Quality Planning.

All of this was to determine managements true commitment to the Quality System.

 

[Randy]

Look for an answer that would come out of this type of question.

"What can you personally do to prove to me that what you claim isn't a bunch of eyewash to provide a nice warm fuzzy?"

 

[ralphsulser]

How about "It's time to pay attention to all those meeting discussions and e-mails you have been getting all along"

 

[C Emmons]

How about "It's time to pay attention to all those meeting discussions and e-mails you have been getting all along"

I like this, I think I will plan to bring all of them to the meeting on Friday so when I start hearing (and I know I will) "I was never told that" I can pull them out!!

I have to say. I have been going through these audits for awhile in my field operations, just not the corporate. I have to handle these guys wilth kid gloves unfortunately, and I was just wanting to see how some other people have done it. Today I have created a couple of pages of possible audit questions. I am going to send them to each person attending the meeting on Friday. I am requesting they come prepared to discuss the processes controlled by their departements and how they would provide evidence based on these questions. I will randomly ask to generate a group participation

 

[M Greenaway]

Why do you feel that you need to coach top management in the audit process ?

 

[C Emmons]

Why do you feel that you need to coach top management in the audit process ?

Ever see the old Christmas Cartoon with all of the Toy's

"Land of the Misfits" Something wrong with every toy in the land, but somehow they all fit and worked well together. Pretty much what I am working with. Dont get me wrong. Lots of talent here, however, we have the old style Management of as long as it gets done fine, dont ask me to prove it later. Talk about a goal of Change Management. In process, but it is slow.

 

[Randy]

Being the little prankster I am, I used to enjoy making the big boys squirm in their seats as if they had a case of hemmoroids and jock itch at the same time

Most top exec's are sorely unprepared and overconfident when it comes to truly knowing what and how and when and who. This pretty much falls in line with my article on communication last month (please read and VOTE (hint, hint))

Help the poor dearies out!