Training for quality auditors

19 Jan, 2005

Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) has organised a training programme to create awareness amongst the newly inducted Internal Quality Auditors (IQAs) of the University about the audit and its procedure to verify the implementation of ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System on Tuesday. Professor Dr Muhammad Aslam Uqaili addressing the trainees said that in order to initiate the audit, Management Representatives (MR) had to define the scope, objective and criteria of the audit and establish audit team and audit plan for audit and assign duties to the auditors.
He said the main objectives to be investigated are: What are the contractual and legal requirements, does the organisations' products meet the contractual and legal requirements?. Is consistency ensured in the standards? Are organisation' s policies and procedures followed as a routine activity? Is the organisation following the standards and procedures genuinely? Is there any serious discrepancy between what is produced and the test results.
He said the Auditor should review all the facts and the overall situation. Conformities should be summarised to at least indicate locations, functions, processes or requirements that were audited, where no Nonconformities were observed.
Nonconformities should be recorded and supported by the audit evidence and should be reviewed by the auditee to ensure accuracy and understanding. Difference of opinion should be resolved before finalising.
MR confirms the completion of audit as per plan and forwards the audit report to the responsible authority for Corrective, Preventive and/or Improvement Action.
He said through this system, providing of quality education to the students could be maintained within the specified tenure without wasting their precious time.
Concluding his speech Dr Muhammad Aslam Uqaili said the Audits driven by professional programmes could be highly valuable in improving the quality of organisation. On the other hand, if conducted unprofessionally, the same could be damaging.

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