What are the key steps and best practices for conducting an SPC audit?

1 Plan the audit

The first step of an SPC audit is to plan it carefully and thoroughly. You need to define the scope, objectives, criteria, and schedule of the audit, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the audit team and the auditees. You also need to prepare the audit checklist, which is a list of questions and items to verify during the audit, based on the SPC standards, requirements, and best practices that you want to assess. The audit checklist should cover all the aspects of your SPC system, such as the process flow, the control charts, the data collection and analysis, the corrective and preventive actions, and the continuous improvement.

2 Conduct the audit

The second step of an SPC audit is to conduct it according to the audit plan and checklist. You need to collect evidence from various sources, such as documents, records, observations, interviews, and measurements, to verify the compliance and effectiveness of your SPC system. You need to document your findings, which are the deviations, nonconformities, or opportunities for improvement that you identify during the audit. You also need to communicate your findings to the auditees, and seek their feedback and clarification.

3 Report the audit

The third step of an SPC audit is to report it in a clear and concise manner. You need to summarize your findings, conclusions, and recommendations in a written audit report, which should include the audit scope, objectives, criteria, schedule, team, methodology, results, and follow-up actions. You need to present your audit report to the auditees, and discuss the results and actions with them. You also need to distribute your audit report to the relevant stakeholders, such as the management, the customers, or the regulators.

4 Follow up the audit

The fourth step of an SPC audit is to follow up on it to ensure that the actions are implemented and verified. You need to monitor and track the progress and status of the actions, and provide support and guidance to the auditees if needed. You also need to verify the effectiveness and sustainability of the actions, and confirm that they have resolved the issues and improved the performance of your SPC system. You may need to conduct a follow-up audit or a surveillance audit to check the compliance and effectiveness of your SPC system on a regular basis.

5 Improve the audit

The fifth step of an SPC audit is to improve it by learning from your experience and feedback. You need to evaluate the performance and outcome of your audit, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your audit process, team, and report. You also need to solicit feedback from the auditees, the stakeholders, and the customers, and listen to their suggestions and complaints. You need to implement corrective and preventive actions to improve your audit process, team, and report, and enhance your audit skills and knowledge.

6 Benefit from the audit

The sixth step of an SPC audit is to benefit from it by leveraging your results and insights. You need to use your audit findings, conclusions, and recommendations to improve your SPC system, process, product, and service quality and performance. You also need to use your audit results and insights to benchmark your SPC system against best practices, standards, or competitors, and identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. You need to use your audit results and insights to demonstrate your compliance and excellence to your customers, regulators, or certifiers, and increase your reputation and credibility.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?