
Internal Audit processes do not have to be mindless clerical activities: To protect the messangers from getting shot, as the quality manager, I put the following into action:
Internal Audit Scope: The internal auditor will conduct only the intial audit and submit the audit report to the quality manager (me). The quality manager in turn does the audit trail/follow up with the process owners/stakeholders, and close the audit loop with the process manager. The quality manger will provide the auditor with results/feedback from the follow up audit. The auditor will be tasked to complete the final audit report with non-conformances issued as applicaable. A brief 15 minute meeting In the
process manger's office with all stakeholders, and presentation/signoff of the finalized internal audit report.
Quality manger follows up with corrective action implementation and
process manager monitors corrective action for effectiveness.
1. Develop a comprohensive audit training program (6-9 month investment)
2. Identified 10 possible candidates but approached only 3 and sought from them a 1 hour per week commitment (lunch & learn).
3. Conducted the trainging and refined the internal audit program per the feedback received.
4. Turned the trained auditors loose on myself. They audited pre-selected processes in the following sequence ...
Pilot Phase 1 (30 day cycle) ..... 1) Control of Reords .....2) Control of Documents (Internal only)
Pilot Phase 2 (30 day cycle) ..... 3) Human Resources
Pilot Phase 3 (30 day cycle) .....4) Corrective Actions
5. Human resources provided constructive feedback to the internal audit team during lunch & learn session. This session was designed to achieve
.....a) Audit team to develop a working relationship with HR
.....b) The audit team to know its limitation
.....c) Quality manager to work out the "what if" situations with HR
.....d) form the "bond"
6. Present to Top Management a 10 minute (max) presentation of the "pilot internal audit"
value added performance.
Note: The 3 internal auditors selected are now managers
