Internal Audit Systems
Simple internal
audits are key to the successful on-going improvements needed in the business.
You must have a way to ensure the "best practices" and procedures that
you
have developed, are actually being effectively implemented.
Our simple solution is to train everyday employees in
auditing the "practice" (what is actually being done) against
"documentation" (What you described, or thought was to be done). If
these two match, the audit is over.
Auditing processes and procedures is the responsibility
of day-to-day management of each area of the business. It is not the
responsibility of the auditors or quality department. This audit system will
however, help "process owners" and managers identify and resolve discrepancies
between procedures and actual practice.
The auditors sit with the process owner and watch how they do their job. Then
they review the documentation and procedures to see if they match. If they do,
the audit is complete. Otherwise the process owner or manager must complete and
submit a Corrective
Action Report
This way, auditors do not have to be trained or have
competence in either the processes or the quality management systems. The auditors
learn things in different areas they audit which helps them perform better back in their own
department.
The system ensures that audits are scheduled and
completed on-time and that the audit findings are reported and resolved
effectively. Summary reports are provided to process owners and management and
form the basis for executive review of how well the process management system is
maintaining itself.
Once the auditors are trained, our system uses the
least amount of manpower and effort of any systems we have tested.
