ISO audit : What does it mean and how to be prepared

An ISO Audit is a fundamental term that implies checking to guarantee you are really doing what you state you are doing.

During the ISO audit you:

– Check that the administration framework is in consistence with the applicable ISO standard.

– Check to guarantee that the procedures made to meet the quality targets are appropriate.

– Check that any issues inside the administration framework have been tended – Search for any enhancements that can be made to the management system

An ISO audit is a periodic assessment of an organization’s compliance with the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The purpose of an ISO audit is to verify that the organization is following the standards and procedures set forth by the ISO.

Audits can be conducted by either internal or external auditors, and are typically scheduled once every three years. However, organizations may choose to have an audit more frequently if they feel it is necessary.

ISO audits are generally divided into two parts: a management systems audit and a product audit. The management systems audit assesses the organization’s overall compliance with ISO standards, while the product audit focuses specifically on the products or services that the organization produces.

Preparing for an ISO audit can be a daunting task, but there are a few things that organizations can do to make the process go more smoothly. First, it is important to familiarize oneself with the requirements of the ISO standards that apply to the organization. Second, the organization should develop and implement procedures for ensuring compliance with those standards.

Finally, the organization should select a competent and experienced auditor who will be able to assess whether or not the organization is meeting the requirements of the ISO standards.

The ISO definition for “audit” is:

“A systematic and independent examination to determine whether quality activities and related results comply with planned arrangements and whether these arrangements are implemented effectively and are suitable to achieve objectives.”

There are 3 principal sorts of ISO audits :

First Party Audit – otherwise called an internal audit. These audits are generally led inside by your own staff (that are prepared to complete the management reviews), or they can be done by an outside organization for your benefit if you don’t have enough resources.

Second Party Audit – otherwise called a provider audit. These reviews are normally completed by lead auditors with your organization and are intended to guarantee that the organizations that supply items/services to you are doing what they state they are doing. Once more, these reviews can be completed by an outer organization if you don’t have the inward assets.

Third-party Audit – additionally known as a confirmation review. These audits are constantly completed by a Certification Body auditor. These audits are to gain certification or accreditation to the important ISO standard by an endorsed body.

Audits can (and at times should) be directed against any of the ISO norms, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OH&S 18001, AS9100, ISO 13485, TS 16969, ISO 27001.

An example of this can be found in ISO 9001 under clause 8.2.2:

“The organization shall conduct internal audits at planned intervals to determine whether the quality management system”

How to be prepared for the ISO audit?

Here are six hints to awe the auditor and acquire your ISO certification on the main attempt.

1. Be all around prepared

The ISO certification ought to be a living organization process that is continually refreshed and improved. For that to be valid, you need to set up a timetable for assignments, interior audits, and reviews—and stick to it. The most exceedingly bad thing you can do is hold up a month prior to the audit and after that endeavor to hurry to finish everything.

2. Take internal audit truly

Holding a thorough internal audit will enable you to get any genuine non-congruity issues before the final review. The internal audit can likewise plan staff for the final audit meeting process.

3. Implement correctives activities

You should take correctives activities to constrain intermittent issues when they are distinguished. A solitary event of a non-conformity issue won’t imperil your ISO certification, yet intermittent issues require remedial activities. A noteworthy issue found by the inspector could defer your certification and abandon your scrambling to build up a procedure to fix the issue as fast as would be prudent.

4. Don’t forget the management review

Your management review investigates your whole quality management framework in any event once per year. Your best supervisors ought to be included to survey your quality management, targets for the following year, client remarks, non-compliance issues and correctives activities, the status of internal audits just as any progressions to procedures and guidelines.

The management review must be careful, all around the reported gathering that will result in the formation of activity to intend to determine issues recognized amid the meeting. Your management review ought to be done good progress of time of a review so changes can be actualized.

5. Correctly audit objectives 

New ISO standards have higher prerequisites concerning the setting, checking and modifying objectives. The auditor will hope to see you have kept tabs on your development on meeting objectives after some time. Try not to falter to modify goals as per business requests. In a downturn, for instance, it is consummately ordinary to bring down goals to mirror the changing financial condition.

6. Ensure that everything is clean

It’s essential to ensure the workspace is clean and organized. Directors ought to complete a production line visit before the review to ensure that everything is in the correct spot.