Sometimes you take things for granted. Sometimes it’s a good idea to question your own actions and their usefulness from several perspectives. In addition to project management, I have been involved in matters related to quality management, the environment, as well as occupational safety, but I am no longer able to tackle such a wide range of domains. That’s why I am happy to go back to the basics.

Although the word “auditing” may sound sophisticated, at its core, it means listening. There are times when it’s better to just stop and simply listen and observe. When you’re busy, you may do things out of habit and it’s not easy to notice unnecessary elements or overlaps, or opportunities for improvement.

Audits can be carried out within your own company, with your own partners, or you can request an external auditor to examine your activities in order to identify opportunities for improvement. Through auditing, it is possible to identify compliance within the company’s activities. Requirements to comply with include legal and regulatory requirements, customer requirements and requirements related to the company’s goals.

The purpose of an audit is to develop the operations of the company. Internal auditing is one of the most important management tools. On the other hand, external audits can result in a certificate that shows external stakeholders that the company is committed to developing its operations. The certificate can be useful not only for gaining customer trust, but also for estimating cost benefits and getting support for sales and marketing. A certified quality management system meets the requirements and is committed to continuous improvement and customer-based operations.

Auditing is also the company’s most important outlet for feedback. Additionally, an audit can be used to implement new operating methods or guidelines. It serves as a good two-way communication channel and should be used to support the company’s strategy and treated as a normal part of doing business. The benefits auditing and certification offer are not always self-evident. Sometimes it is good to review these basics in order to recall the priorities of the company

Tiia Tuomi
The Lead Auditor, Product Manager ISO 9001