External Audit Of Quality Systems

Quality is the single most important factor for a company to be successful. All other things being equal, if your quality suffers, you would not be able to find success with your company. The quality should not be only at par, but above expectations of customer. The quality will be good if it is hammered onto the mind of the staff. An audit is an essential thing for the things to be under control. Surprise Audit is one of the best things that can be, because it will keep the employees on their toes. 

There is an internal employee of the company who works as Management Representative (M.R.) and he is authorized to keep all the documents and systems in place. He is empowered to implement all the systems. But, it is imperative that he will be less effective because he is internal auditor. Internal auditor is seen daily and if you do anything daily, it will lose its specialty status. For example, if you like Gulab Jamun very much and you are given a freedom to eat Gulab Jamun daily in any quantity you want, the Gulab Jamun will not be your favorite. It is a daily staple. It is like Home Food. Till you are at your home, you will feel it is regular one. But if you are eating outside because of your tour, you will feel at home when you come back and eat home food. 

Similarly, if you keep an external agency or an external auditor who will have audits once in a quarter at a maximum notice of one day, the systems will be in place. Such a short notice is quite disturbing and people will be kept on toes to do the needful. External auditor will have his aura. He will not be very friendly and will understand both point of views - of management as well as staff. Often Management does not give proper audience to staff as it is a daily matter. Staff is also not serious about internal problems and do not tell the Management. But they will tell all these things freely to external agency. External agency will also have good audience with the Management. It also would like to show good progress so that he gets the contract for the next year and so he will be very very effective. You can try this in your company too.