As the Product Manager for Enablon, I interact with customers on a regular basis. It is always a pleasure to listen to clients and learn more about their primary challenges, whether I am inquiring about market requirements during one-on-one calls or speaking at SPF sessions.
As a result, I've noticed that there is some misunderstanding about the purpose of audits versus the purpose of inspections, and that the terms are sometimes used interchangeably without realizing that they are two very different things. In this post, I hope to provide a clearer understanding of the objectives of auditing and inspecting, as well as a better understanding of the differences between the two.
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Audits look for evidence of compliance.
The frequency with which audits are carried out is typically lower than that of inspections. In most cases, the purpose of an audit is to determine overall compliance with one or more regulatory requirements, internal policies, or other compliance drivers. Audits are typically carried out by a third party who is not affiliated with the site being audited. This could be an auditor from a corporate department or an auditor who is completely independent of the company. Audits also provide an opportunity for a company to "self-check" to ensure that everything is in working order. Compliance managers at the corporate level, as well as audit program managers, are constantly looking for ways to automate and improve the management of their audits.
Inspections are tasks that must be completed in accordance with a checklist.
quality inspection china are typically performed on a recurring basis by facility-level personnel, such as EHS coordinators and managers, who complete checklists. supplier inspection services can be thought of as compliance tasks that are carried out with checklists in mind. For example, an inspection can be a targeted verification to determine whether or not a specific piece of equipment or process is operating in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. EHS managers and coordinators at the corporate or site level who are responsible for implementing a compliance system within a company or site are looking for ways to improve the way ISO9000 Quality System Audit are conducted.
What is the difference between the two?
When deciding between audits and inspections, it is helpful to think of the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle as a useful tool for differentiation. Inspections are a "do," and audits are a "check," according to the highest level of abstraction. When a site is required to conduct an inspection as part of a compliance obligation, this is typically the case. An audit is the process of determining whether or not compliance obligations have been met, including whether or not the necessary During Production Inspection have been performed. For example, an environmental operating permit may require a facility to inspect a piece of equipment on a weekly basis to ensure that it is in proper working order. After that, the corporation may conduct an annual audit to ensure that it is complying with the requirement to conduct the inspections.
Product Inspections, which are a critical component of quality control, allow you to verify product quality on-site at various stages of the manufacturing process and prior to shipment. Preventing quality problems and supply chain disruptions from occurring after your product has left the manufacturer's facility is a good way to save money in the long run. During your initial interactions with the supplier, you should inquire about the possibility of sending inspectors to the factory to conduct quality first article inspection on your behalf.