Auditing is defined as an onsite verification activity such as inspection or inspection of a process or quality system to ensure compliance with requirements. Audits can be applied to the entire organization or specific to a function, process, or production step. Some audits have special management objectives, such as document, risk, performance audits, and follow-up of completed corrective actions.
THE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUDITS
ISO 19011: 2018 describes auditing as "obtaining audit evidence [records, factual statements or other relevant and verifiable information] and evaluating it objectively to determine the scope of auditing standards. A systematic, independent, and documented process [a set of policies, procedures, or requirements]. ”There are three main types of audits.
Process Audit: This type of audit ensures that a process is functioning within established limits. Evaluate the operation or method against given instructions or criteria to measure compliance with these criteria and the effectiveness of the instructions. Process audits include the following:
- Check for compliance with defined requirements such as time, accuracy, temperature, pressure, composition, responsiveness, amperage, and component mixing.
- Examine the resources (equipment, materials, people) applied to convert inputs to outputs, the environment, the methods (procedures, instructions) to follow, and the measurements collected to determine the performance of the process.
- Verify the adequacy and effectiveness of process controls established by procedures, work orders, flowcharts, training, and process specifications.
Product audits: This type of audit inspects a particular product or service, such as hardware, processing materials, or software, to assess compliance with requirements (specifications, performance standards, customer requirements, etc.).
System audit: audit performed on a management system. This is done by examining and evaluating objective evidence to verify that the applicable elements of the system are appropriate and effective, developed, documented, and implemented following specified requirements.
- Quality management system audits evaluate existing quality management programs to determine compliance with company policies, contractual commitments, and regulatory requirements.
- Similarly, an environmental system audit inspects an environmental management system, a food safety system audit inspects a food safety management system, and a safety system audit inspects a safety management system.
Encompass Safety is a professional Safety consulting and Management System Audits organisation. Established in 2011 and based on the Sunshine Coast, Encompass Safety works with businesses all over Southeast Queensland. In fact, we operate as far north as Wide Bay Burnett and Bundaberg.