Tips on How to Relax during Audit

[qualitytrec]

Try to have your documents all ready the day before. Go home on time. Do something to relax. Take a tylenol pm and go to bed early. Dress as nice as your work will allow for and go in just a little early. And if and when you feel nervous, smile.
Answer the question that is asked directly(ask for clarification when needed, the open questions that are asked are often deliberatly vague), show what is asked for, and dwell in the areas that you know you have the most control as a company. It will be great.
Oh, and do not forget to go order in some nice (but not too nice food for lunch). Over lunch talk about life outside of work. Ask the auditor questions about them and build repore.
And remember it is your sand box. if the auditor finds a small pile, no biggie. Scoop it out and figure out what needs to be done to keep the cats out.
If your nerves get too bad just dismiss yourself to the restroom wipe your face with some cool water, breath a little and go back at it.

FWIW,
Mark

 

[Polly Pure Bread]

Have I been to the Phillipines?

My dad was in the USAF and I lived on Clark for a bit and I was in the Marine Corps....Have I been to the Phillipines?

I loved the Phillipines.

Oh yeah...I was once fairly competent with a balisong and had been forally trainied in its use, and carried one for many years.

You've beaten me to that because I am a filipino but I am not trained to use balisong and I haven't use one.

 

[Stijloor]

While Stage 2 audit is getting closer, 5 days away, I feel tense. This would be my first time to be audited by CB auditors. Any tips you can share to overcome nervousness and provide good answers to the questions? BTW, I am a document controller and an internal auditor.

I would say that I gained most of my knowledge on quality from the Cove.

Look at this post + attachment. There are some tips that may help you to ease the tension....

Stijloor.

 

[John Martinez]

I will be going through a registration audit soon and if you don't get certified the first time around do they charge you again the next time?

There is no such thing as pass or fail. If the auditor finds deficiencies he will write non-conformances. Depending on your Certification Body (CB) these non-conformances will have to be addressed in accordance with the CB’s policies.

If the CB’s policy is that a major non-conformance needs to be closed before your organization can be recommended for certification, then that may necessitate a visit to close that non-conformance, and therefore expenses involved. That said, the auditor will be there to close the non-conformance only and not a new full audit.

Look at all findings (non-conformance, observations, and opportunities for improvement) as opportunities to improve your system.

The only time I suggested turning an initial audit into a pre-assessment, and rescheduling their initial audit was for a client that was TOTALLY unprepared. Unprepared as in they had done NOTHING required by 4.1 ISO 9001.

 

[AndyN]

There is no such thing as pass or fail.

True, John, but that's not how many members of management view the certification audit. We, in the CB fraternity, know it's not a case of passing the audit or failing it. Saying it doesn't change things.....

The fact remains that it will always be viewed that way by the client and it will also be a numbers game - "How many ncs did we get compared to...?"

 

[John Martinez]

True, John, but that's not how many members of management view the certification audit. We, in the CB fraternity, know it's not a case of passing the audit or failing it. Saying it doesn't change things.....

The fact remains that it will always be viewed that way by the client and it will also be a numbers game - "How many ncs did we get compared to...?"

I hear ya.

 

[Michael Malis]

True, John, but that's not how many members of management view the certification audit. We, in the CB fraternity, know it's not a case of passing the audit or failing it. Saying it doesn't change things.....

The fact remains that it will always be viewed that way by the client and it will also be a numbers game - "How many ncs did we get compared to...?"

Just finished my audit today. It was hard to relax...
Yes to your point, NC's were the only thing that were important to the Management. "How many CAPA's do we need to open now?" was the big Q from Site Manager. I didn't get an impression that they want to improve the system, it was more of the fact that my team create extra work...

 

[amanbhai]

Feel confident in your system. If you are not confident in your system then you'll feel nervous. Just went through stage 2 for AS9100 and AS9120 both systems I designed for my company.

You have to have confidence......what's going to happen? you get slapped with some findings and have to perform some work? wow...improving your system.

Findings are good things. If you never had any I would change auditors

don't drink caffine before the audit

That's exactly what my boss says. when there are no NCs......change the auditor!
Why won't I drink caffine? I mean is there any specifc reasons?