System Audits | Internal Audits | Quality Audits | Types of Audits

The Audit is a Systematic, Independent, and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the audit criteria are fulfilled. System audits help to maintain the effectiveness of the quality management system and enhance customer satisfaction levels.

System Audits are generally conducted based on management standards like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and IATF 16949, etc., or other standards as per system applicability and requirements of an organization.

Types of Audits | Management System Audits

The System Audits or Quality System Audits or Management System Audits are classified into three types:

• 1st Party Audit
• 2nd Party Audit
• 3rd Part Audit

1st Party System Audits

• It is also called an internal audit.
• These are conducted by, or on behalf of the organization itself for management review and other internal purposes.

Internal audit of an organization is conducted by the internal qualified auditors as per the defined Plan and Schedule. The audit schedule can be monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly basis.

The audit schedule generally consists of the following information:

• Department or function’s  name
• Audit planned date
• Audit planned time
• Auditor name
• Auditee name
• Audit scope criteria etc.

In the internal audit process, all departments/functions are covered as per set frequency.

The frequency of audit shall be dynamic in nature i.e. audit frequency should be higher for processes/functions which seem to be more critical and low for the normal or less critical.

2nd Party Audit

• It is an audit conducted by a customer on its supplier.
• They have a business relationship between customers and suppliers.

3rd Party Audit

• It is an audit conducted by an external agency for the purpose of certification or re-certification.
• They do not have any business relationship.

There are various certification bodies like BSI, DNV, UL, BVQI, TUV, etc. who are conducting audits for the certification purpose.

The certification body assesses the whole system of an organization as per the management system standards and recommends the continuation of the certificate if an organization fulfills the audit compliance.

Generally, two surveillance audits are conducted on a yearly basis by the certification body, and a recertification audit is conducted every 3rd year.

Download Internal Audit Plan and Internal Audit Schedule-pdf