contact: kris@themanagementsystems.com
Conducting Audits can be a Science but Meaningful Audits is an Art:
- Identifying missing elements and obvious
noncompliance/nonconformances is easy, - Identifying what is good and/or done right is necessary but difficult,
- Identifying nonconformances to the intent of the standards or ineffective processes and activities is difficult in a working environment,
- Separating the trivial (observations and findings) from the Important takes judgement and experience,
- Lecturing about audit conduct and policy is easy,
- Asking the right questions is harder,
- Getting people to talk and listening to what they have to say can be difficult,
- Establishing credibility (audit has value) is an art, it must be earned,
- Maintaining control of the audit without turning off communications takes leadership,
- Separating fact from fancy takes experience; reliance on objective evidence,
- Making recommendations to resolve findings & observations is not good audit practice: – Lack of familiarity with the process and practice – Lose objectivity and become part of the problem,
- Making suggestions that would stimulate resolution is recommended, where necessary.
Source Management 