Conducting audit activities
The steps in the process of conducting an audit are elaborated on as follows. There are no rules to adhering to this sequence but it can be tweaked according to the characteristics of specific audits:
- Assigning roles and responsibilities to guides and observers: The presence of guides and/or observers is agreed upon by the audit team and auditee, following which they may accompany the audit team. They do not form part of the decisions during the audit and the audit team leader is the ultimate decision-maker who can at any point in time discontinue guides/observers if they interfere with audit activities. Guides usually help the audit team members arrange interviews with specific personnel, access specific locations in the organization, abide by the organizational rules of health, safety, or access, or make any general clarifications.
- Conducting the opening meeting: The main purpose of the opening meeting is to discuss the audit plan and arrangements...
