INTERNAL AUDITS for ISO 9001 (& ISO 14001)

Internal Audits ISO 9001, are not just a tool to be used by those businesses with some form of Business Compliance, ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 Management System.  This essential business tool should and needs to be used by all businesses especially small and micro companies keen to evaluate what is and isn’t working within their business.  Just as you would expect to have your accounts audited, equally if not more importantly you should check all your business and operational  processes.  Read on for some easy and simple ways to introduce and use Internal Audits and Self Inspections within your business.

What Is An Internal Audit or Self Inspection?

It is simply a way to check that what you say or think you do within your business’s policies, procedures or processes is actually happening.  It is a way to check, measure and improve processes that may not be as effective or as efficient as you think they are.  A high percentage of smaller businesses do not regularly check what is working and what isn’t working –  this can include every area of your business from staff performance to service or product delivery and payment.

How Do I Do It?

The 1st thing to do is to understand and map out your existing processes.  Take, for example your service delivery or operational process.

• When you receive an order or an enquiry – who processes it, how do they process it, what happens to it?

• How does the order turn into a tangible business service or product – who must it go to and what actions must happen at each step for it to be delivered or provided?

• What needs to happen to ensure the service or product is invoiced correctly and accurately?

Once you have identified the steps above produce a flow chart or simple procedure, check that what you think is happening is happening.  Talk to team members and managers, check any records associated with the process (orders, checklists, invoices etc).

Once you have completed the above steps, pull this information together specifically highlighting any areas that are not happening the way you think they should be happening or that may not be happening in accordance with the procedure.

What Do I Do With The Findings?

Review your findings with those involved, things may not be happening the way you think they should because someone may have developed a better way to do things, people may need further training or development or it could simply be that people don’t know.

Once you have reviewed your findings and discussed them, you should then amend or update the relevant process or procedure and then train or brief those involved with it.

If you want to develop an internal audit or self-check system within your business or are looking for ISO 9001 advice in Kent and the South East get in here

info@qbhsolutions.co.uk

07795 564089

www.qbhsolutions.co.uk

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