New to Internal Auditing - Best questions to ask?

G

GARMSL12

Hello all, Just want to say I'm new to the Cove and so far I have found this forum so helpful. Bit of a backstory this past Feb. I was asked to take over our quality program. I have been working to get our "quality" in order in the plant and lab. I have been updating a lot of out dated forms, SOP's and so on.

Our ISO program has been mainly overseen by personal in purchasing due to helping with the last Quality manager. I will be taking that ball over after the first of the year. However we our starting to do our internal audits, the one thing I'm finding is the system "checklist and questions asked" that is in place was never trailor to our business, it was just a generic list.

My question to everyone is for someone new to the Quality field, what questions should be asked when doing audits? Or better yet when asking the questions do they have to be framed in a way that the area being auditied understands the questions? The checklist we have now are so technical, noone understands them but me.

Once again great site, and Thanks for any advise.
 
M

mguilbert

Re: New to Cove and internal auditing, best questions to ask?

Here are a few.

What is the process being performed?
Why is it important?
What forms do need to complete?
What are the imputs?
What is your final product?
Who recieves this product?
Do receive feedback?
What are your quality goals?
Are you meeting them?
Any changes to your process?
Do you know of any ways to improve this or other processes?

Always try to tailor questions in a way the interviewed understands.

Hope this helps some.

Btw Welcome to the cove.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
S

ssz102

Re: New to Cove and internal auditing, best questions to ask?

similar this cover is too many in here, you can search it

firstly, you know what are they doing each process? and what kind of records are generate for these process? and if these process are effective and in line with the ISO standard;

second, you will do audit according to your company's document and related standard
 
H

harry

Trusted Information Resource
GARMSL12 said:
...................... I will be taking that ball over after the first of the year. However we our starting to do our internal audits, the one thing I'm finding is the system "checklist and questions asked" that is in place was never trailor to our business, it was just a generic list. ..................
Click to expand...

Welcome to the Cove.

While it is true that competency is needed to perform audits, everybody starts from somewhere. If you have not had the opportunity to attend a training session, we do have something here for you. See: Auditing Information.

It is a big file from Marc. A bit dated but still good in many respects.
 
Mikishots

Mikishots

Trusted Information Resource
GARMSL12 said:
Hello all, Just want to say I'm new to the Cove and so far I have found this forum so helpful. Bit of a backstory this past Feb. I was asked to take over our quality program. I have been working to get our "quality" in order in the plant and lab. I have been updating a lot of out dated forms, SOP's and so on.

Our ISO program has been mainly overseen by personal in purchasing due to helping with the last Quality manager. I will be taking that ball over after the first of the year. However we our starting to do our internal audits, the one thing I'm finding is the system "checklist and questions asked" that is in place was never trailor to our business, it was just a generic list.

My question to everyone is for someone new to the Quality field, what questions should be asked when doing audits? Or better yet when asking the questions do they have to be framed in a way that the area being auditied understands the questions? The checklist we have now are so technical, noone understands them but me.

Once again great site, and Thanks for any advise.
Click to expand...

The checklists you've seen are generic because the standard clearly states that not all the aspects will apply to all organizations. You will never find (nor would you want to) a checklist that has all the questions you want to ask. This topic is a very common one for new auditors because they haven't realized that using canned question lists destroys the whole point of the audit. You can't follow different trails by riding a train - you have to be on an ATV.;)

For me, the key question has always been the same - Is the process effective? All my other questions are geared toward finding out if the process is effective or not, and those questions can change from moment to moment based on what I see, read and hear. Checklists may look beautiful, but they are blind, illiterate and deaf.
 
S

silentrunning

I agree completely with what Colin said. Go to a class! There are many knowledgable people on the Cove that will come to your shop and teach auditing. Now having said that, I also know what it is like getting thrown into a situation you are not trained for. Pick the questions from this thread and make up a list for the short term. For the long term, get a class set up as soon as possible. I also recommend Craig Cochran's book - ISO 9001 in Plain English. I recently looked back at my first Internal Audit and was embarrased by it, but it was a start. Just do your best for now.
 
Randy

Randy

Super Moderator
Colin said:
Sorry to be blunt about this but the first question to ask is "I am competent to perform audits?" To start with, have you been trained? If not, I strongly recommend that you attend a training course. You will then be able to work out your own 'best questions' to ask.
Click to expand...

:topic:I thought about saying this but I would have been slam-dunked for being rude;)

Question?

1. Relevant to subject at hand

2. Reasonable expectation that the person being interviewed can answer them

3. Ones that you already know what the answer is supposed to be

4. Understandable by person being interviewed
 
Colin

Colin

Quite Involved in Discussions
Sorry if it came across as being rude, it wasn't intended to be. I just think that auditing is a daunting task at first and with the right training and some coaching from the good people here on the Cove, the job will be easier and almost certainly more effective.

Garmsl12, if you can't get to a training course in time before you start auditing, PM me and I will send you some material that will give you a start.
 
Randy

Randy

Super Moderator
Colin said:
Sorry if it came across as being rude, it wasn't intended to be. I just think that auditing is a daunting task at first and with the right training and some coaching from the good people here on the Cove, the job will be easier and almost certainly more effective.

Garmsl12, if you can't get to a training course in time before you start auditing, PM me and I will send you some material that will give you a start.
Click to expand...

You weren't, it was a good, honest, to the point answer, but had I said it....Nuff said
 
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