Effective Process Audits

Internal audits are a great way to help improve the company’s processes, as well as identify areas for improvements.   However many organization struggle to develop an effective and value added approach to performing an internal audit.

Conducting a successful process audit is a relatively simple process.  In the past, I have utilized an approach that is illustrated using the following graphic:

Simply pick a point in the process and then work forward or backwards from there.  For example,   we can start the audit by choosing a random part number or process and can touch  every organizational aspect from there. 

We can check the documentation to insure that the correct material was used.  We can verify that the vendor is approved and take a look at their quality and insurance certificates.  We can review the vendor’s on-time and quality performance metrics.

We can look at the process documentation.  We can review control plans, FMEA, flow charts, operation

standards, process set-up instructions, blueprints and inspection instructions.  We can verify that these items were properly controlled and that the operator was using the most current revisions.

If we chose to, we could review training records of the operator(s) to verify that they have been certified to perform the process.  In addition, we can review the inspection equipment used to check the product and verify that it has been properly calibrated.

We can review the inspection records, CAPAs, Deviation Requests or Customer complaints.  In fact, there are no constraints as to where the audit trail can take us.

Using this approach we can get a very specific snapshot of operational compliance to required standards.  Furthermore, utilizing audit results to drive continuous improvement yields enormous benefits to the organization.

For more information on how Accupoint Software can help your organization transition to an automated internal audit system, please call us at 800.563.6250 or click here for more information on our flexible,   cloud-based compliance solutions.