Certification audit planning
One of the first things we do at quality.com.au and indeed for our clients when we are their virtual quality manager, is to organise the next audit date with our certification provider before the auditor finishes the current audit. Can I do that I hear you read? Yes you can. Well you can if you have chosen one of the more forward thinking certification providers.
Most providers have centralised ‘operations’ type department that plan and coordinate dates and resources to ensure audit plans and durations are met. However, there is a huge disconnect between what you expect and what you receive. One of the down sides are ill-prepared auditors who have to be educated each time a new auditor arrives. Then there are those who choose to ignore the booking plan. But mostly it is the inevitability of date creep or prioritisation for you the business owner.
Don’t get me wrong. Some of these operational departments do a very good job meeting your needs, but the juggernaut behind them have some very stiff penalties and charges for last minute changes. And by last minute, I mean anything under 4 weeks out. Really. One provider in particular has a sliding scale of 25% of due fees anywhere up to 12 weeks out. Blimey.
We choose Global-Mark as our certification provider for many reasons, but one of the best is that we get to negotiate the audit date directly with the auditor, and it’s a two way street where either party can approach each other to make changes to the date. And do you know what? It rarely happens because we can plan with confidence and look forward to our certification ‘partner’ in making our business better.
The booking plan itself then details everything both sides need to get the best result. Noice.