Purpose
To define how internal audits of the processes are to be carried out. Internal audits are spot checks of the Management System. The Objective of the internal audits is to verify the effectiveness of the Controlling of processes and where practical identify the areas that Improvements can be made.
Covers
ISO 9001:2015
BS 7858:2012
BS 7499:2013
BS 7960:2016
BS 7984:2008
Forms Used
Internal Audit checklist form
Internal Audit report
Understood By
Managing Director, Business Development Manager, External Consultant
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GENERAL
1.1 A programme of internal audits shall be adhered to in order to determine whether the Quality Management system conforms to the requirements of the documented procedures ISO 9001:2015, BS 7858:2012, BS 7499:2013, BS 7984:2008 & BS 7960:2016
1.2 Internal audits can be programmed depending on the results of the previous audits and the status and importance of the area to be audited as well as the results of previous audits. The Managing Director is responsible for determining the frequency of the audits.
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SCOPE OF AUDIT
The scope of the audit covers the requirements ISO 9001:2015, BS 7858:2012, BS 7499:2013, BS 7984:2008 & BS 7960:2016
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and internal procedures. The Managing Director shall ensure that the scope of the audit is consistently met.
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AUDIT FREQUENCY
3.1 The frequency of the audits shall be determined by the Managing Director, taking into account the status and importance of the activities and the area to be audited as well as the results of previous audits, e.g. Document control may be audited annually and the quoting process three times a year.
3.2 It is the responsibility of the Business Development Manager to produce an annual audit programme identifying the frequency of the audits; this programme shall be prominently displayed within the office and signed by him.
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AUDIT METHOD
4.1 The Business Development Manager is responsible for preparing a checklist before carrying out an audit of any procedures within the documented Quality System, the checklist will identify what will be audited.
4.2 The Business Development Manager will record the results of the audit onto the Audit checklist form, the auditor shall ensure he makes reference to what was audited irrespective of the results of the audit
4.3 Where procedures are audited and no non-conformances are identified, reference must still be made on the Internal Audit Report checklist, as to the documents/personnel audited.
4.4 The result of all audits shall be bought to the attention of the person having direct responsibility for the area being audited.
4.5 The person responsible for the area audited shall sign and date the internal audit report providing documentary evidence that he/she has read, understood and agrees with the result of the audit. It is the responsibility of the auditor to obtain signatures on the Internal Audit Reports
4.6 The person responsible for the area audited shall investigate the reason (cause) of the non-conformance ensuring the details are recorded onto the Internal Audit report in order to implement any corrective action to prevent the re-occurrence of the same problem.
4.7 Any corrective action shall be recorded onto the Internal Audit report, ensuring the person responsible for implementing the corrective action records the date and signs the form in the appropriate box. In some cases, corrective action may not be necessary, if none is required, record ‘NONE REQUIRED’ in the relevant column of the form.
4.8 Following corrective action, the area/procedure shall be re-audited to verify the corrective action had been implemented and is effective, this is the responsibility of the Auditor. The results of the verification shall be recorded onto the Internal Audit report, the Auditor shall sign and date the report.
4.9 Internal Audit reports shall be available for review at each Management review meeting of the Quality Management System. The result and any actions shall be recorded within the minutes of the meeting
4.10 Auditors shall be suitably trained or experienced in auditing a Quality Management System. A record of training\experience shall be retained on file; this includes any external consultants the company may use.
4.11 It is the responsibility of the Managing Director to ensure that Auditors do not audit their own work and consequently an external consultant will carry out the internal audit until the management structure at the Company is enlarged.
