IOSA Cat 3 Audit Checklist

IOSA auditing process is designed to follow internationally recognized quality management principles. It helps identify areas for improvement while improving air transport operator efficiency.

Each IOSA audit must commence with an opening meeting led by the Lead Auditor and attended by auditors (unless logistically impossible) as well as representatives of the Operator. Attendance must be recorded.

Documentation Review
Document review should be part of any ISO 9001 audit checklist, enabling auditors to identify any weaknesses in the documentation and ensure these issues are taken care of by their organization.

Conducting a comprehensive documentation review is both time-consuming and labor intensive, so to make auditors’ lives easier all documentation should be presented in an easily navigable form – including paginated, searchable PDF documents that bookmark them easily – along with being organized to aid quick reference.

An audit checklist promotes consistent auditing practices by eliminating subjective interpretations and biases that could compromise audit outcomes, making it an invaluable asset for organizations seeking to enhance their quality management systems. In addition, auditors can more thoroughly and accurately evaluate key processes resulting in more reliable audit results; furthermore it streamlines audit processes making them more efficient and cost-effective and helps auditors manage both their time effectively as well as saving both resources.

Process Evaluation
At this phase, auditors assess processes and evaluate how well an organisation implements them, in order to identify any problems and make suggestions for improvement. A thorough evaluation of key processes is key for an IOSA audit’s success.

An IOSA Audit Checklist ensures that an auditor (AO) conducts a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of key processes within an operator. Furthermore, using one demonstrates your dedication to quality management principles.

AOs will check that information provided is accurate, and assist in scoping, planning and preparing for IOSA audit activities on-site. This may involve scheduling line flight observations in some countries as well as obtaining necessary approvals for document reference reviews. During this phase, an AO will also consider any “Operational Exclusions,” or defined segments of operations excluded from IOSA requirements on account of risk assessments.

Non-Conformity Identification and Documentation
The Non-Conformity Identification and Documentation Process involves identifying and documenting any issues discovered during an ISO 9001 audit, from non-conforming products and processes to developing corrective actions to mitigate or prevent future issues from arising.

Step one in this process should be to pinpoint which ISO 9001 regulation has been broken. This will enable more targeted corrective action that fits to each situation, as well as showing any violator how they violated it, helping ensure it doesn’t happen again.

At this phase of the audit, an auditor should carefully assess an organization’s documentation such as quality manuals, procedures, work instructions and records in order to determine if these processes align with ISO 9001 requirements and effectively support their Quality Management System.

Evaluation of Corrective Actions
An effective quality audit checklist serves as a useful resource for auditors, providing them with a structured approach for reviewing ISO guidelines in an efficient manner. Furthermore, using such a list prevents unnecessary duplication of efforts while streamlining the audit process and making it more cost effective.

Thorough documentation review: Ensuring that documented processes comply with ISO 9001 requirements and reflect actual practices within an organisation. Objective evaluation: Ensuring impartial assessment based on evidence rather than personal opinions or bias. Timely corrective actions: Encouraging organizations to address any nonconformities identified during audit in an efficient manner to promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Internal audits are an integral component of compliance with ISO guidelines in an organization, serving to prepare for certification, surveillance, or recertification audits and identify areas where improvements need to be made.