What is ISO Audit- Internal And External?
To make our products and processes safe, efficient, and sustainable we should ensure to follow international standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which is an international pioneer in setting standards across industries. An ISO audit can help your company in several ways, whether you’re looking for certification or merely for the security and reputational boost that comes with ISO compliance.
Many ISO standards, such as ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 9001 2015, offer company compliance and customer quality assurance satisfaction. Read further to get introduced to ISO audits, also the many audit methods you might use, and provide you with advice on how to get ready for internal and external ISO audits. Click here to learn more about ISO 9001 Audit as ISO 9001 certification is considered the base as it is set on Quality Management System.
An ISO Audit
An audit conducted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to determine whether your company complies with one of its standards. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, ISO is a non-governmental organisation that creates standards and control frameworks that direct industry best practices in areas ranging from information security to car-seat safety. In addition to guaranteeing compliance, an audit compares your company’s systems to every ISO standard. Few of the standards can be obtained as ISO certified by independent audits.
An ISO Audit: Why is it Important?
Conducting ISO audits is essential for several reasons, including determining the extent to which you are in full compliance with ISO standards and spotting operational flaws that will help you develop the optimal risk management strategy. An ISO audit may serve as a part of the first stages of a business risk assessment strategy. Still, it can also assist you in developing new processes or attracting new customers. You can also be able to begin the process of obtaining ISO certification with the right audit schedule.
What Kinds of ISO Audits Are There?
The four forms of ISO audits include certification, internal audits, surveillance, and external audits. In accordance with your compliance and certification objectives, scope, scale, and budget, your choice of audit type may change.
Internal Audits
Internal audits are a crucial part of the preparatory process for certification, inspection, or recertification audits. An authorised auditor within your organisation can do an internal ISO audit. If ISO compliance is your aim, then an internal audit may be sufficient to verify your company is utilising ISO standards as a basis for best practices. Utilising an internal audit checklist to determine how well your company’s systems adhere to ISO standards.
External Audits
Third-party auditors undertake external audits to evaluate an organisation’s ISO compliance. There are several distinct types of external audits, including audits of customers and suppliers, because many ISO standards require compliance by all parties engaged in the supply chain. As part of an “external audit,” certification and surveillance audits are also included.
Audits For Certification And Recertification
When you apply for certification for an international standard like ISO 9001, a certification agency will conduct an audit and award a certificate of compliance that is valid for three years. In exchange, your company promises to maintain the systems, processes, and quality controls specified by that certificate. ISO standards that offer certification call for a separate certification audit.
Surveillance Audits
You must set up surveillance audits with the certification authority at least once a year once your company has earned ISO certification. An examination of management, any actions the business has made to lessen or correct earlier nonconformities, and an assessment of how the organisation has acted upon internal audit recommendations are all included in a surveillance audit.
How Are ISO Audits Carried Out?
An ISO audit may be carried out remotely or on-site, depending on the type of audit required. The organisation can self-perform internal audits and carry them out on-site or remotely. Some external audits can be carried out remotely as well. However, a registrant must undertake any certification or surveillance audits on-site.
What Takes Place Throughout An ISO Audit?
An ISO audit focuses on systems, goods, or processes; the specific procedures vary depending on whether the auditor is evaluating a product’s safety and quality of service, etc. Whether you’re performing an internal or external ISO audit, the auditor will assess your systems, products, process, procedure, and management against a checklist, check if everyday operations follow the rules, and evaluate how well you’ve addressed previous gaps or non-conformities.
A competent third-party auditor, known as a registrar, must conduct an external audit as part of the certification process for ISO’s certification of various standards, including the ISO 27001 standard and ISO 9001 2015. Although certification might be time-consuming and expensive initially, it lasts three years and can considerably improve your reputation; some clients also want or prefer ISO certification. The amount of time it takes to obtain ISO certification will vary depending on your firm’s size, scale, and prior preparation.
It is advisable to allocate at least three months to your certification audit preparation. Numerous internal audits will be conducted over those months of planning, as well as potential external audits of clients and suppliers.
Although achieving ISO certification and compliance involves several processes and shouldn’t be rushed, it doesn’t have to be difficult. A consultant for ISO certification can assist you in managing the specifics of your ISO compliance journey and simplify your job. Your ISO audit will go more smoothly and effectively if you work with the correct compliance management consultancy service provider to manage the spreadsheets, checklists, control evaluations, audit schedules, and other moving pieces.
