When should a company perform an internal ISO 9001 audit?

Insurance Icon Turned AuditorA company should perform an internal ISO 9001 audit at various stages and frequencies to ensure continuous compliance and improvement. Management Solutions Group is here to help prepare or perform your Internal Audit. Here are the general guidelines:

1. Before External Audits: It's crucial to conduct internal audits before scheduled external or certification audits. This allows the company to identify and address any non-conformities or areas for improvement.

2. Regularly Scheduled Intervals: Companies typically perform internal audits at least once a year. However, the frequency can be higher depending on the size of the organization, the complexity of processes, the level of changes made to the system, and past audit performance.

3. After Significant Changes: If there have been significant changes in processes, procedures, or personnel, or after implementing corrective actions from previous audits, an internal audit should be conducted to ensure the changes meet ISO 9001 requirements and are effectively implemented.

4. As Part of Continuous Improvement: Regular audits are part of the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle central to ISO 9001. They help identify areas for improvement and ensure that quality management processes remain effective over time.

5. Random Audits: Some companies also conduct unscheduled audits to ensure that processes are being followed consistently and not just prepared for an audit.

It's important for a company to plan and schedule these audits based on its unique needs, risks, and past audit findings. The schedule should be flexible enough to accommodate unforeseen changes or issues that may arise.