As an essential component of the AS9100 Rev D standard, internal auditing is one of the most crucial processes for maintaining your aerospace QMS. There is disagreement over how to build best the internal audit checklists that are created when preparing for an audit, even though the procedure is well established. Nonetheless, there are a few crucial points to keep in mind when putting together these documents to guarantee their value to the auditor and the success of the audit.
Examining any Process Documents
Any process audit checklist will begin with examining the intended arrangements for the process, and if there is a documented procedure for the process, this is where it is recorded, as the goal of the audit is to compare what is happening in the audit with the expected arrangements. While examining the records, remember to take into account:
- Updates and Enhancements: If the process has undergone any modifications, it is crucial to check in to ensure that the changes were effectively conveyed and are being utilized. To avoid the issue from happening again, this is particularly crucial if the change was brought about by an existing one.
- Unchanged Content: It is important to check whether the process’s content is still accurate, particularly if it hasn’t been updated in a long time. The best practices on the floor could not be reflected in the written documents if employees discover more effective ways to complete tasks occasionally and changing the method is overlooked.
- Previous Corrective Actions: It’s crucial to analyse any corrective measures that have been identified for the process. You must incorporate checks on the effectiveness of these corrective actions in addressing the previously identified problem, as well as ensure that they were appropriately communicated and implemented.
Preparation of Audit Checklist
The audit checklist is essentially a list of items to look for and inquiries the auditor wants to make throughout the audit to confirm that the process outputs are fulfilling the intended arrangements for the process. Many of these inquiries originate from the documentation review. Still, there are a few other areas that should also be taken into account, particularly in cases where the process lacks a written procedure:
- Criteria for AS9100 Rev D: It is imperative to periodically confirm that your processes remain compliant with the standard, even if they are documented. This should have been done when the document was authorized. You must always stay in compliance with AS9100 standards, and confirming this during internal audits is a good way to do this.
- Process Inputs and Outputs: A process is any activity that receives one or more inputs and produces one or more outputs. Frequently, one process’s output is used as an input by another. Because of this, there may be a variety of issues that develop from the interactions between processes, and it is crucial to examine these connections during internal audits. Are the outputs precise and full enough for the subsequent step to use them? If not, why is the output produced and is it ever used? Finding process savings in terms of money and time can be greatly aided by looking into this area.
- An Outline of the Procedure is as Follows: Making and going over a process overview can be helpful, particularly if there is no documentation. To make use of this graphic, concentrate on each area below to make sure that it is recognized, comprehended, and contributes to the process’s effectiveness. The recognized hazards associated with that procedure and how they are mitigated would be a new addition to this turtle diagram with AS9100 Rev D. This might be the finished audit checklist for an easy process.
- Process Effectiveness: The person in charge of the process can use an indicator, as shown in the turtle diagram, to determine whether the process is operating efficiently and accomplishing the goals and targets that have been set out for it. An auditor can determine if a process is implemented well or if it needs to be improved to reach targets by comparing this performance indicator with the anticipated results.
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