Audit

Stage 1 Audits

The objectives of a Stage 1 Audit are to:

  • Assess your Documented Management System
  • Evaluate your Locations and any site-specific conditions
  • Assess your understanding of the requirements of the standard
  • Agree the scope of your Documented Management System, processes and location(s) and related statutory and regulatory aspects and associated risks
  • Plan the Stage 2 Audit and establish your planning arrangements for Internal Audits and Management Reviews
  • Determine your readiness for a Stage 2 Audit
  • Identify any areas for potential Improvement of the Management System

 

Stage 2 Audits, Re-Audits and Transfer Re-Audits

The objectives of a Stage 2 Audit are to:

  • Evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of your Management System
  • Assess your performance against key performance objectives and targets (monitoring, measuring, reporting and reviewing)
  • Evaluate your legal compliance, operational control of processes, Internal Audits, Management Reviews and Policies
  • Evaluate links between the normative requirements, policy, performance objectives and targets, responsibilities, competence of personnel, operations, procedures, and performance data.
  • Identify any areas for potential Improvement of the Management System

 

Surveillance Audits and Surveillance Takeover Audits

The objectives of a Surveillance Audit are to:

  • Ensure your Management System has continued to fulfil requirements between Audits
  • Ensure Internal Audits and Management Review have been performed to programme
  • Review actions taken on nonconformities identified during previous Audits
  • Evaluate your handling of any complaints
  • Evaluate the continued effectiveness of the management system, with regard to achieving your objectives
  • Evaluate your legal compliance and performance
  • Evaluate your progress of planned activities aimed at continual improvement
  • Ensure continuing operational control
  • Review any changes to your organisation since the previous Audit
  • Ensure that ACS Registrars and the Accreditation Body marks are being used correctly
  • Identify any areas for potential Improvement of the Management System

 

Validation Audits

The objective of a Validation Audit is to:

  • Ensure your Management System has continued to fulfil requirements between Audits
  • Ensure Internal Audits and Management Review have been performed to programme
  • Review actions taken on nonconformities identified during previous Audits
  • Evaluate your handling of any complaints
  • Evaluate the continued effectiveness of the management system, with regard to achieving your objectives
  • Ensure continuing operational control
  • Identify any areas for potential Improvement of the Management System

 

Unscheduled visits

The objective of an Un-Scheduled Audit will be defined separately, as each Audit of this type is unique.