Process assessment & scheduling the audit

[SATHYABALARAMAN]

In ISO/TS16949 Clause 8.2.2.4 Internal audit plans states "adjusting audit frequency".

Kindly suggest a structured method of assessing the processes & scheduling the audit.

Sathya.S

 

[Kales Veggie]

There are many ways. You can to analyze the performance of the QMS, its processes and the outcomes / metrics.

Some suggestions:

- increase audits of processes with higher number of N/C from internal audit
- increase audits of processes that receive more customer complaints

Increase could mean double the audit frequency. For good performing processes, you may reduce the frequency, so that cost of auditing does not increase.

 

[qusys]

In ISO/TS16949 Clause 8.2.2.4 Internal audit plans states "adjusting audit frequency".

Kindly suggest a structured method of assessing the processes & scheduling the audit.

Sathya.S

The dynamic of the internal audit program could be modulated based upon the criticality of the non conformances coming from internal/customers/registrar audit, for example.
RMA from customer is another example as well as excursions or increasing of scrap/defectivity/quality issues/non conforming product in your processes

 

[AndyN]

Good advice from Kees. Also don't forget that it's not necessary to have a whole year's calendar of audits planned out. You can have an annual plan without actually specifying exactly what process etc you are going to audit all planned out over the year! That way, if you do encounter a process or customer issue, you don't HAVE to make a change and get everyone upset because you "changed your mind" about what to audit.

Also, this particular requirement is another way of saying what's already in the standard - "the audit programme shall be established based on status and importance". Not sure if who wrote the TS requirements understood this, but that's basically the same thing.

 

[SATHYABALARAMAN]

Thanks for your comments. But I need a structured method. My plan is

Audit will be scheduled based on importance & status of processes:

Importance of process w.r.t Customer satisfaction, Product quality, Delivery

Status of process w.r.t to objective targets & Audit NCs.

If anyone already have a method please post...