Internal Audits
One of the most reliable indicators of a successful organization is a consistent and reliable internal audit program. As a certification body, our auditors are certified to perform internal audits, and offer unique insights to clients regarding priority issues during Certification Audits. A well-planned, conducted, and reported internal audit allows your business to continually improve and provide evidence of compliance to key requirements as well as provide verification of the effectiveness of your company’s processes and practices.
Whether you are in need of a ‘last-minute audit’, or if you are looking for a comprehensive internal audit program customized to your business processes, we are here to support you.
System Internal Audits
We audit to the following standards. We deliver an organized, well-documented report that meets the internal audit requirements of certification bodies. Within the report, you will receive an executive summary table that includes Strengths, Opportunities for Improvement, and Nonconformance Findings.
ISO 9001 – Quality management system
ISO 14001 – Environmental management system
IATF 16949 – Automotive industry standard
ISO 45001 - Occupational health and safety system
Layered Process Audits (LPAs)
Layered Process Audits (LPAs) are a systematic approach to quality management in the production process designed to enhance product and process conformance. The main purpose of implementing LPAs is to proactively identify and resolve potential issues, thus ensuring continuous improvement and preventing defects. This structured auditing methodology involves multiple layers of audits performed by various organizational levels.
Key components of a successful Layered Process Audit program include:
- Regular and consistent audits.
- Dynamic and changing audit questions
- Auditors from different departmental levels.
- A focus on real-time corrective actions.
- Trend analysis of findings.
Unfortunately, many IATF certified companies struggle with maintaining compliance to their LPA schedule, and identifying improvement opportunities through the LPA Process. For many, it is simply a non-value add, 'pencil whipping' exercise.
If the answer to the question, "Are your LPAs going stale?" is "YES", please contact us to learn about our 'one-card-one-question' LPA system. Inspired by a 6-deck Blackjack Dealer Card Deck ("Shoe"), our oversized Deck of cards, allows the Auditor to pull one card from the bottom of the Deck, with focus only one question or concept. Simply pull one card from the bottom of the Card Shoe, read the question (and the Joke of Day at the bottom of the Card), replace the Card back into the open Shoe, and perform the task listed on the Card.
Our LPA CARD program includes a monthly scheduling board, and easy to use reporting format.
Looking to increase audit focus on a particular activity or process due to newness of the process, or problem history? Simply increase the number of duplicate Cards in the Deck, increasing the probability the CARD is selected, and subsequently increasing frequency and focus on a particular issue.
Manufacturing Process Audits
Focus is placed on production processes. We can develop a comprehensive schedule to audit all manufacturing processes, all shifts, including shift changeover processes, or we can perform a specialized audit specific to a manufacturing line or process.