What is the role of Internal Auditor as per ISO process?

An audit is simply another form of inspection and testing – except that in this case the product being inspected is the management system itself.

Like a product inspection, an audit simply compares how things actually are, to how we think they are and how they ought to be.

Audits help uncover areas that are in need of attention and they can be an opportunity to draw back from the day-to-day details and to take look at the whole process with fresh eyes. Despite being such a (potentially) positive tool in the management system toolkit, audits often induce the same kind of stress as end of year exams!

Obviously a great deal rides on a successful external audit so some anxiety is expected. However, a good Internal Audit process can reduce the stress, since you can uncover the problems yourself and resolve them before the external auditor begins.

We suggest you enrol in a professional development course before jumping into the role of Auditor. An alternative is to use an external consultant to perform your internal audits for you.

Quality, safety and environmental management standards all require audits to monitor and report on the effectiveness of the management system.

·         Define basic quality/environmental system definitions

·         Describe the purpose and role of the internal auditor

·         Demonstrate effective communication skills and questioning techniques

·         Apply conflict management skills

·         Plan for an internal quality/environmental system audit

·         Prepare for an internal quality/environmental system audit

·         Perform a quality/environmental system audit in an organization or by using case studies

·         Audit report form for the organization(s)

·         Tools for gathering information such as check sheets, question lists, annotated procedures, etc.

·         Internal audit plans (process structured)

·         Audit notification letter/memo

·         Final audit report 

In order to meet and satisfy this requirement, organisations must continually review their QMS to:

• ensure its continuing suitability and success
• reveal defects, danger spots or irregularities
• suggest possible improvements
• eliminate wastage or loss
• check the effectiveness of management at all levels
• be sure that managerial objectives and methods are effective and can achieve the desired result

With the publication of ISO9000, auditors now have to demonstrate their competence in more areas than before. Priorities now are not only on the structure, content and terminology of the revised standards, but also on the underlying quality management principles. This means that auditors are now required to understand the organisation’s activities and processes. In addition, they must be able to appropriately audit against the requirements of the standard in relation to the organisation’s objectives.

As a minimum, auditors must demonstrate competence in:

• the requirements of ISO9001
• the concepts and terminology of ISO9000
• the eight quality management principles, namely: - customer focus - leadership - involvement of people - a process approach - a system approach to management - continual improvement - a factual approach to decision-making - mutually beneficial supplier relationships

They should also show a general understanding of the performance improvement guidelines of ISO9004, and a familiarity with the latest draft of the auditing guidance standard ISO19011.

Simply saying an internal auditor is a person from the same organisation  but different department who will check the department for confirmity to the international standard.. what ever standard it be. he should have a good knowledge on ISO19011 which is the guide line for auditing which says the ways to audit, quality of auditor etc

According to the ISO14001 the internal auditor's role will be, establishing schematic independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the environmental management system audit criteria sets by his/her organization are fulfilled . 

the program and schedules should reflect:

• potential environmental impact of the activity
• results of the previous audits

and the auditing procedure should have a clear

• scope/ frequency/ methodology 
• the means of reporting the findings.

Is to verify the compliance with the standards and the effectiveness of the management system

internal audit activity is an independant and objective activity to improve the processes and reduce risk and assist in firm gools achievement