When
we meet customer after the audit , we often get remarks like:
·
Audit by XYZ was
very good.
·
Audit quality is
now gone down.
These
are some of the indicators organization need to look into. What exactly can
make an audit as ideal is a debatable point, and can vary with customer
expectations.
A
value added audit, timeliness, fair evaluation, friendly atmosphere are common criteria.
While NC and failures are not easily accepted and the trend also shows that
auditors avoid NC, this generally is short term reaction.
Value
added audit:
·
Pointing out
weaknesses pertinent, important for success.
·
Identifying
strengths which can help management to consolidate.
·
sharing valuable
information like industry benchmarks, general practices ,
·
Sharing
knowledge/ experiences across industry.
In
contrast if the audit findings are:
·
Minimal
·
Overstressing on
documents rather than practices
·
Not pertinent to
core processes
·
In contrast with
performance of the organization
The audit is not remembered. Though the auditee gives
due respect to auditor, the memory of the audit is short lived.
Timeliness:
Common misconception is extended audit is in depth
audit. Hence some auditors by habit extend beyond working hours, delay the
schedule. This actually happens because if the auditor is not prepared or not aware
of the working and has considered in adequate time.
Hence the auditor must obey his own time table. In
some companies even the auditor is not entertained if he is reached before or
after the schedule.
The timeliness also means that auditor is prepared,
aware of process, and has clear idea of requirements to be covered.
Fair
Evaluation:
The process of evaluation is always subjective. The
auditor who specifies these criteria before, and repeats when the key point is
observed, the evaluation is simple.
Negative evaluation is easy to identify, but difficult
to communicate, and is always debatable.
Hence the method of explanation is important.
The correctness, completeness of report is what is a
consistent to audit.
Friendliness:
This is point which is always a last priority. The
stiff face auditors, those who use word system frequently and threaten auditee
with system failure, are not liked.
In fact sometimes friendly auditors tend to be
harsher, but apparently are liked more.
It is better to smile, crack a joke and give findings.
To sum up, if auditee gets the experience of all
these, points, & considers the audit is a really worth spending, and
believes that auditor is professional. This is a role play Which needs to be played
to perfection.
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