Unit 5: Quality Audits and Assessments
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in Performance Management in Quality Control course at London School of Business and Administration. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Audit #
A systematic examination and evaluation of an organization's practices, processes, and systems to ensure that they are in compliance with established standards and regulations. In the context of quality control, an audit typically involves assessing the effectiveness of quality management systems, identifying areas for improvement, and making recommendations for corrective action.
Audit Objectives #
The specific goals and outcomes that an audit is intended to achieve. These may include assessing the effectiveness of quality management systems, identifying areas for improvement, and making recommendations for corrective action.
Audit Plan #
A detailed outline of the steps and procedures that will be followed during an audit. The audit plan should include information about the scope and objectives of the audit, the audit criteria, and the resources and personnel that will be required.
Audit Report #
A formal document that summarizes the findings and conclusions of an audit. The audit report should include information about the audit objectives, scope, and criteria, as well as any recommendations for corrective action.
Audit Scope #
The extent and boundaries of an audit, including the specific practices, processes, and systems that will be examined. The audit scope should be clearly defined in the audit plan.
Audit Criteria #
The specific standards and regulations that will be used to evaluate an organization's practices, processes, and systems during an audit. Audit criteria may include industry-specific guidelines, legal requirements, or best practices.
Compliance Audit #
An audit that assesses an organization's compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards. Compliance audits may be conducted by internal or external auditors, and may cover a wide range of areas, including financial reporting, environmental regulations, and safety standards.
Continuous Improvement #
A philosophy and approach to quality management that emphasizes the ongoing identification and elimination of defects and inefficiencies in processes and systems. Continuous improvement is typically facilitated through the use of quality tools and techniques, such as statistical process control and root cause analysis.
Corrective Action #
Steps taken to address and resolve issues or problems that have been identified during an audit. Corrective action may involve making changes to processes, systems, or policies, or providing additional training or resources to personnel.
External Audit #
An audit conducted by an independent third party, such as a regulatory agency or a professional auditing firm. External audits are typically conducted to assess an organization's compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards.
Follow #
Up Audit: An audit conducted to assess the implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions that have been taken in response to findings from a previous audit. Follow-up audits are typically conducted by the same auditors who conducted the original audit.
Internal Audit #
An audit conducted by personnel within an organization, rather than by an independent third party. Internal audits are typically conducted to assess the effectiveness of quality management systems, identify areas for improvement, and make recommendations for corrective action.
ISO 9001 #
A set of international standards for quality management systems, developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO 9001 provides a framework for organizations to ensure that their products and services meet the needs and expectations of customers, and that they are consistently delivered.
Nonconformity #
A deviation from specified requirements, such as those outlined in a quality management system or a set of industry-specific guidelines. Nonconformities may result in defects, errors, or other issues that can negatively impact the quality of products or services.
Process Audit #
An audit that focuses on a specific process or set of processes within an organization. Process audits are typically conducted to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the process, identify areas for improvement, and make recommendations for corrective action.
Quality #
The degree to which a product or service meets the needs and expectations of customers. Quality is typically evaluated through the use of quality tools and techniques, such as statistical process control, root cause analysis, and customer satisfaction surveys.
Quality Audit #
A systematic examination and evaluation of an organization's practices, processes, and systems to ensure that they are in compliance with established quality standards. Quality audits may be conducted by internal or external auditors, and may cover a wide range of areas, including product design, manufacturing, and customer service.
Quality Control #
The processes and procedures used to ensure that products and services meet the required quality standards. Quality control typically involves the use of statistical methods and quality tools to monitor and control processes, identify and correct defects, and prevent errors.
Quality Assurance #
A proactive approach to ensuring the quality of products and services, through the use of policies, procedures, and systems that are designed to prevent defects and errors. Quality assurance is typically focused on the design and development stages of the product or service lifecycle.
Quality Improvement #
The ongoing efforts to identify and eliminate defects and inefficiencies in processes and systems, in order to improve the overall quality of products and services. Quality improvement is typically facilitated through the use of quality tools and techniques, such as statistical process control and root cause analysis.
Quality Management System #
A set of interrelated policies, procedures, and systems that are used to manage and control the quality of products and services. A quality management system typically includes elements such as quality planning, quality control, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.
Quality Planning #
The process of defining and establishing the policies, procedures, and systems that will be used to ensure the quality of products and services. Quality planning is typically focused on the design and development stages of the product or service lifecycle.
Root Cause Analysis #
A problem-solving technique used to identify the underlying causes of defects or errors in a process or system. Root cause analysis typically involves the use of data and statistical methods to identify patterns and trends, and to determine the root causes of problems.
Statistical Process Control #
A method of quality control that uses statistical methods to monitor and control processes, identify and correct defects, and prevent errors. Statistical process control is typically used in manufacturing and other process industries, and is based on the principles of statistical quality control.
System Audit #
An audit that assesses the overall effectiveness and efficiency of an organization's quality management system. System audits are typically conducted to assess the organization'