Audits are essential for improving processes, systems and products. But what exactly is an audit, why are they important and how do you approach them properly? In this first article in our audit series we answer all your questions about audits. Read on to learn more about the types of audits, their usefulness, and how to conduct them effectively.
What is an audit?
An audit is a periodic, systematic check to determine whether processes, systems or products meet the stated requirements. There are two types of audits:
- Internal audits: Conducted by your own organization and often voluntarily.
- External audits: Conducted by an external party and often mandatory.
Why are audits important?
Audits go further than identifying risks. By digitizing audits you can use them as a strategic management tool. This offers advantages such as:
- Identify immediate improvement opportunities.
- Increase employee involvement.
- Increase the quality of products and processes.
In short, audits are more than controls; they are valuable tools for improvement.
What do audits tell you?
The word ‘audit’ comes from the Latin audire, which means to listen. Audits can provide you with many valuable insights, such as:
- Where there are bottlenecks.
- What risks or structural errors there are.
- Whether improvement measures are effective.
With these insights you can take targeted actions to improve processes and products.
Three levels of audits
Audits are carried out at three organizational levels:
- System audit: Checks whether the entire system functions effectively.
- Process audit: Checks whether processes are running as described.
- Product audit: Assess whether the product or service meets the stated requirements.
The design and implementation of an audit depends on what you want to audit.
Types of external audits
External audits are carried out by an external party and are of three types:
- Certification audit: Checks whether you meet standards such as ISO or NEN.
- Accreditation audit: Provides a guarantee that a process, product or service meets specific requirements.
- Supplier audit: Checks the quality of suppliers’ products, services or processes.
How do you conduct an audit?
Performing an audit involves the following steps:
- Prepare: Formulate your questionnaires and checklists.
- Assign value: Determine the variables you want to measure.
- Plan: Draw up a schedule.
- Analyze: Use the results to identify areas for improvement.
Digitize your audits for more efficiency and real-time insights.
How can CYS help you?
With CYS software you can digitize audits, checklists and reports. This saves time and gives you the tools to immediately monitor improvements. Real-time insights make analyzing and optimizing processes easier than ever.
