Inside Out: The Benefits of Outsourced Internal Audits

Clause 9.2 of ISO 9001:2015 gives us the requirement to perform periodic internal audits of the effectiveness of the QMS to achieve its objectives. But does that mean you have to do it on your own? Absolutely not!

Outsourcing to a service provider that specializes in ISO 9001 has many benefits, including:

Expertise

While you likely spend most of your day thinking about running your business, a competent third-party that specializes in ISO 9001 spends most of its time thinking about...ISO 9001. Thus, there is no need to train internal staff or take them away from their essential roles and responsibilities, minimizing the risk of disruption to the organization and its ability to satisfy customers.

Perspectives

Given their wide experience with ISO 9001 across multiple companies and industries, external auditors have seen the many ways it can be effectively (or, perhaps, not effectively) implemented. As a result, they can bring unique perspectives, insights, and best practices to your organization and your QMS.

Independence

An external provider of internal audit services can act with a level of independence that would be difficult to achieve otherwise. Freed from the norms of organizational politics and hierarchical relationships, they can provide candid feedback, crucial for uncovering issues and ensuring they are addressed in a timely manner.

Objectivity

Being outside of the daily work of the QMS, external auditors bring an objective point of view that enables them to make a fair assessment of the system, build credibility and trust with management and employees, and enhance the organization's decision making and risk management processes.

Rigor

Embracing the military adage, "the more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war," we advocate for internal audits that are more comprehensive and challenging than certification audits. This thoroughness cultivates a culture of excellence, proactively identifies issues, and ensures your QMS is robust and consistently effective. Remember, audit findings aren't only problems; they are opportunities for growth and improvement.

Conclusion

By choosing to outsource your ISO 9001 internal audits, you can leverage expertise, gain fresh perspectives, ensure impartiality and objectivity, and build a culture of continuous improvement.

Contact us for more information on how we can help you establish a robust and highly effective internal audit process for your organization.