Customer QMS Audit
In the Quality world today, its commonplace that customers will perform an audit or survey at their suppliers facilities
In compliance with the Customers’ QMS, in order to control their sub tier effectively, the customer needs to assure that the suppliers’ QMS is compliant with respect to the Contract, Drawing, and Specification requirements
Typically all QMS auditors and surveyors will use a checklist
However it’s very important they don’t merely go through the motions and just “check the box” after simply reviewing a supplier procedure and looking at provided objective evidence,
What were they thinking “Great, all is well!”?
That doesn’t help anyone, and hurts the process!
To be a truly value added event for the Supplier and the Customer, an auditor must ask the right follow up questions and “understand” the construct of suppliers procedure and QMS. They need to look at random examples of compliance with objective evidence to truly understand and gauge the operational compliance.
The Supplier needs to offer objective evidence and clarification as appropriate to assure that the auditor fully understands “the true current state”
Since this is done within a very limited time frame, preparation and strategy are key for success and streamline the process.
Supplier should have the checklist ahead of time to make procedural references, get objective evidence organized, and have process owners available
Participants need to be cooperative, remain calm and keep an open mind. The more seasoned auditors should actually make the process enjoyable
Always keep in mind that “when suppliers are successful the customer is successful” and this is a win –win.
Audits and Surveys should be viewed as a continuous improvement process yielding potential improvements for all.
Remember If it was a 1st (internal) or 3rd Party Audit (outside independent) the cost would be the suppliers
If there are any findings and corrective action is necessary, work as a team and focus on the solution, and ask for input as appropriate
Customer QMS Audit Customer QMS Audit Customer QMS Audit