The last stage for your business to obtain ISO 9001 certification in Pakistan is an audit by an outside auditor. Your quality management system (QMS) will be evaluated by the auditor to make sure it satisfies ISO 9001 standards.
Although audits might be intimidating, your business should be recommended for certification if you are prepared and know what to expect.
To help you be more prepared, we examine the primary processes of an external audit in this post.
An optimistic stance on external ISO 9001 certification audits
An external audit is stressful by nature. On the plus side, audit preparation can yield useful information about areas that need improvement, even if you don’t get certified the first time.
Usually, the procedure leads to better quality control and more efficiency. Therefore, your business will have more profitable and efficient processes even if you choose not to become certified. You’ll be more ready for the upcoming audit thanks to these.
What is the Date of an External ISO 9001 Certification Audit?
After completing an internal audit, you should arrange for an external ISO 9001 certification audit.
At least two to three months’ worth of records and documentation from your ISO 9001 processes are required.
The purpose of the internal audit is to identify any issues or non-compliances with your quality management system.
An External ISO 9001:2015 Certification Audit is carried out by whom?
A third-party auditor (or audit team) performs an external ISO 9001:2015 certification audit. An ISO 9001 registrar, sometimes referred to as a Certification Body (CB), will assign you the auditor.
After the third-party auditor has finished the audit and authorized your certification, the registrar—an independent organization—will issue the ISO 9001 certificate.
The phases of an audit by a third party
There are two primary parts to the third-party audit process, each with a set of processes.
Phase One
The document or readiness review is the first step in the audit process. You can tell if you’re prepared for stage 2 at this point.
Your QMS documentation and the pertinent policies that underpin system operation are the main focus of the audit.
Phase Two
Although it can be done remotely, stage two is typically carried out in person. The use of remote audits has increased after the COVID-19 epidemic.
There are three steps in stage two.
- The first meeting
The auditor will outline the audit’s procedure and expectations during the first meeting. In order to let you know how long the audit will take, he or she will typically give you a schedule. Depending on the size of your business, the audit could take up to a week. - Comprehensive assessment
The audit’s primary component is the thorough assessment. The auditor will review your internal audits, examine your policies and procedures, examine your documentation, and gauge how well your QMS is working.
Final Report and Meeting
The auditor will provide you with feedback during the closure meeting, including any non-compliances that have been encountered.
