The Internal Audit Quality Assurance Checklist

Internal audits are an indispensable element of evaluating the efficacy of your business’ quality management system. They allow you to identify areas for improvement as well as gain insight into ways in which to streamline processes.

An internal audit quality assurance checklist can make the process of conducting a QAR much simpler, so this article will cover key elements to keep in mind when creating one.

1. Identify Issues

Internal auditing starts by identifying issues that need to be addressed, which might include reviewing record keeping methods or verifying training manuals are in place. Furthermore, an analysis should take place of processes to see how well they’re running.

Manufacturing companies typically conduct analysis of their products, processes and quality control procedures when trying to identify issues. This could involve reviewing patents held by the firm as well as engineering documents or equipment used in designing products. It could also include reviewing work instructions that workers are supposed to abide by when producing parts for testing samples from production.

Identification of issues can reveal gaps in compliance protocols that could expose a company to serious legal liability, as well as inefficient systems costing thousands each year. Documented proof of problems encourages optimization efforts that ultimately save money in the long run – this should form part of any audit planning process and should include an examination of a Quality Assurance Improvement Program.

2. Identify Risks

Identification of risks during an internal audit is of vital importance in order to prepare your firm for an external audit that is required for quality certification. Doing this will ensure all areas have been thoroughly assessed, while any critical issues which need addressing are promptly taken care of.

Inspection includes inspecting input materials and components that have an immediate effect on finished products, as identifying any problems in raw material will prevent rework in production and ensure customers receive high-quality goods.

Additionally, this includes reviewing engineering, conceptualization and designing processes as well as reviewing patents, engineering documents, equipment/tools used in design processes as well as work instructions that employees follow to manufacture the final products. Furthermore, samples of completed products will also be examined to see whether they meet customer specifications.

3. Identify Controls

Dependent upon the nature of an audit to be conducted, different controls must be put in place. For example, a quality audit will examine processes and systems, with specific checks for audit resources such as work instructions and employee training being implemented as required. A product quality audit on the other hand would involve sampling production samples to review data available to them before reviewing forms such as PPAP to make sure they’re being filled out accurately.

Process audits aim to analyze how processes are executed by scrutinizing specific field activities and ensuring they follow plans, systems and terms as planned. They may also involve reviewing training materials as well as certification histories or qualification records for qualification audits. Results should then be compared against standards established prior to each internal audit in order to measure whether any adjustments made have had any positive results.

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At the conclusion of a process audit checklist, it’s essential to identify any recommendations which must be implemented. These typically consist of correcting any nonconformities identified during previous audits as well as suggesting improvements to processes being reviewed.

Step two is particularly essential, as it will ensure the effectiveness of an organization’s internal audit functions and ultimately ensure its quality assurance program meets its goals and addresses any issues it identifies.

Once an internal audit has been conducted, its findings should be documented and reported back to management. The information gleaned will give a clear view of the state of an organization’s internal control system, helping it improve over time. Likewise, periodically outside entities should assess your quality assurance review (QAR) program to make sure it remains effective – an audit team or external auditor may conduct it depending on individual requirements for external validation of its effectiveness.