The management system auditor's handbook

Meant for both new and experienced auditors, The Management System Auditor's Handbook provides a detailed and structured examination of the audit process. It seeks to address the whys of auditing, as well as the whats and the how tos. Extensive focus is provided on auditing for effectiveness, in addition to conformance. Author Joe Kausek explains how to use your audit program to drive continual improvement and alignment throughout the organization through the identification of best practices and waste. A special chapter is devoted to the use of the internal audit program to verify deployment of the company’s strategic plan or Balanced Scorecard. Unlike other audit books on the market, this handbook seeks to give the auditor sufficient understanding of the intent, techniques, and specific strategies for auditing, allowing for the development of an audit program that is uniquely fitted to the auditor’s industry, processes, and company culture. While many of the fundamental concepts of auditing apply to any management system audit, separate chapters have been devoted to the unique aspects of quality, environmental and health and safety management system audits. Standards addressed include ISO 9001:2000, ISO/TS 16949:2002, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001, as well as insight on performing combined audits of these standards. Included on the accompanying CD-ROM are comprehensive electronic checklists that can be used to plan and guide the auditor in the evaluation of both the conformance and effectiveness of the management system to the corresponding standard’s requirements. These checklists, unique in both style and format, provide not only the questions to ask, but also the strategies and techniques for evaluating the auditee’s response. The checklists are an invaluable tool for both new and experienced auditors alike, and can be easily customized for the reader’ organization and industry.