Auditing
An audit by definition is an assessment of a company's system and its conformance to the requirements of a
known standard. Audits are conducted by individuals who are highly knowledgeable and technically qualified in their field while strictly adhering to the highest ethical standards.
Concentric Management Systems is capable of a variety of auditing needs including 1st, 2nd and 3rd party audits.
- Gap Analysis audits (recommended 1st step during consultation)
- Pre-Assessment or "Dress Rehearsal" audits (recommended final preparation
step prior to 3rd-party audit activities)
- Full Management System audits: QMS, EMS & Laboratory accreditation
- Partial Management System audits: QMS, EMS & Laboratory
accreditation
- Manufacturing Process audits
- Product audits
- Contract or Customer-Specific Requirements audits
1st party audits
A first party audit is a self-assessment. Larger organizations may have the
benefit of more resources available to conduct first party audits. Many smaller
organizations may have a disadvantage in this aspect of their business. Whether
small or large, Concentric Management Systems consulting with your first party
audits can be a key boost to your performance goals. Concentric Management
Systems consultants can work with your Internal Auditing Team to assure the most
efficient and effective audits possible. Concentric Management Systems can also work with limited
resources to fulfill your internal auditing requirements per International
Standards. A knowledge of strict customer-specific requirements for auditing (i.e. Ford Motor Company) and other aggressive corporate system audits (i.e.
DaimlerChrysler SQA standards) makes Concentric Management Systems your solution to the key process of self-assessment.
You know your company better than any one else. Let us assist you in building the skills necessary to improve your systems on your own terms.
Did you know... that full system assessments performed by Concentric
Management Systems as 3rd party audits can be incorporated into
your training needs for your Internal Audit Team members, satisfying several standard requirements all in one shot? In addition, the Closing Meeting to your full system process audit covers several items required under the Management Review Input section of the new
ISO 9001:2000 standard!
2nd party audits
A second party audit is an inspection of suppliers by its customers. New ISO requirements focus on supplier development and mutually beneficial practices designed to cut costs relative to non-quality and inefficiencies in the supply chain. The ISO/TS 16949:2002 standard states specifically:
"7.4.1.2 Unless otherwise specified by the customer, suppliers to your organization must be third party registered to ISO 9001 by an accredited third party certification body."
Need assistance with the quality in your supply chain?
Why not use Concentric Management Systems to assist in your supplier development? Concentric can use the fundamentals of the ISO 9001:2000 or ISO/TS 16949:2002 standard along with the specific requirements from your supplier quality program to assess areas of risk or cost savings amongst you suppliers.
3rd party audits
Finally, a third party audit is an assessment by an independent, properly accredited registrar utilizing unified and established standards. While very few organizations are
contracted to conduct IATF Accredited ISO/TS 16949:2002 registration audits - actually only about 55 total out of the 500+ accreditation bodies as of Jan. 03 - Concentric
Management Systems can pick, organize, schedule and assist in any other way necessary with all of your 3rd party auditing needs. With so many accreditation bodies to choose from, are you sure you are working with the firm that best represents your needs?
All Concentric Management Systems representatives are RABQSA accredited auditors and many work actively as 3rd party auditors. What better source for consulting than from individuals that have not only built systems from the ground up, but who also audit other organizations for quality system registration?
Pre-assessment Audits
A first, second or third party audit designed to simulate a registration audit while assessing the deficiencies within your quality system. New IATF guidelines limit the number or pre-assessment audits performed by the accreditation body to only one audit. In addition, once the pre-assessment has been conducted, there is a 90-day limit in which the registration audit must be performed irrespective of the deficiencies. Why take the risk of starting a clock on a process that doesn't have to be timed? Furthermore, why pay the daily rate that your registrar is charging you? A simple solution is Concentric
Management Systems. We will mimic the registration process as many times as needed with NO TIME CONSTRAINTS and the ability to help you with your corrective action processes.
