Issue 120 – How often should you conduct ISO internal audits?
ISO 9001:2015…
How often should you conduct ISO internal audits?
I appreciate receiving emails with questions and/or comments from readers of this Newsletter… please continue to do so since it provides me with ideas on what these publications should cover. In my last Newsletter (ISO 9001:2015 Newsletter Issue 119) we discussed the topic of “How long do you wait before closing a CAR?”, and now in this Newsletter we will discuss “How often should you conduct ISO internal audits?”.
The ISO 9001:2015 Element numbering…
Element 4 – Context of the organization
Element 5 – Leadership
Element 6 – Planning
Element 7 – Support
Element 8 – Operation
Element 9 – Performance evaluation
Element 10 – Improvement
How often should you conduct ISO internal audits?… The ISO standards do not specify a set frequency for internal audits, but they do require that internal audits be conducted at planned intervals. The frequency of ISO internal audits will depend on the size of the organization, the complexity of its operations, and the risks associated with its activities. The planned interval you choose should ensure that the quality management system (QMS) conforms to the organization’s requirements, the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard, and whether your QMS is effectively implemented and maintained.
So how often?… Like I said, it is up to you to determine the appropriate frequency of internal audits based on your own circumstances. Factors to consider when determining the frequency of internal audits would be a) how critical certain processes are to your business operations (the level of risk); b) the size and complexity of your company; and c) whether the results of previous audits indicate that it can’t wait another year. In general, most of my Clients conduct internal audits on an annual basis, although some of them choose to conduct them more frequently, such as quarterly or twice a year, depending on their needs. For example, let’s say you decide to only do internal audits once a year… that might be a long time to wait to verify that your calibration process is functioning correctly. Ask yourself this question: “How many items would be measured over a 12 month period, and what would be the impact if that measuring device went out-of-calibration during that time without anyone noticing it?“.
Be sure to watch for our next Newsletter issue where I will be answering some of the questions that I get from Readers of my Newsletters about how to implement the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 in a specific and practical way, that will also help improve business performance…
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Need Help?
ISO 9001:2015 Internal Audit Outsourcing (we can do it for you OR with you!)
For cost effectiveness, the Internal Audit function can be outsourced to an external experienced auditor on a periodic basis. This will provide an independent and objective assessment to management, of where process issues may exist, along with identifying opportunities for improvement. It will also provide the evidence needed to satisfy the Internal Audit requirements in the ISO Standards. We have used two different approaches with this service: a) We conduct the entire audit ourselves, or b) We act as the lead auditor, and along with your Team of internal auditors, we complete the entire audit together. This latter approach allows your people to receive guidance and direction from an experienced lead auditor while at the same time maintaining significant involvement in the internal audit process.
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Internal Process Auditor Training for ISO 9001:2015
The two (2) day Internal Process Auditing for ISO 9001:2015 Training Session is focused on a process approach to auditing with the objective being not only to assess conformance of the quality management system, but also to uncover process improvements during an audit. This goes hand in hand with the process auditing requirements found within ISO 19011 and the process approach covered in ISO 9001:2015, which promotes continual process improvement throughout this Standard. An enhanced checklist is developed, and there will be workshops throughout, to reinforce learning, as well as a live, practice audit. If you are looking to meet the ISO 9001:2015 internal audit requirements and to “raise the bar” for your internal audit program then this is the course you should consider.
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Until next time…
Tim Renaud
Helping Business Professionals Reduce Risk and Remove Waste!