How do you maintain your quality audit certification and skills in a changing environment?

To maintain quality audit certification and skills in a changing environment, one should engage in continuous learning and professional development. This involves staying updated with industry standards, regulations, and best practices. Attend relevant workshops, seminars, and online courses. Actively participate in peer reviews and knowledge-sharing networks. Adapt to emerging technologies and methodologies. Seek mentorship or coaching. Periodically re-certify and take on diverse audit assignments to stay relevant and adaptable. Quality audit professionals must remain agile and proactive to excel in an evolving landscape.

1. Continuous learning through workshops, seminars, and webinars. 2. Network with industry professionals for insights and knowledge exchange. 3. Join professional associations for resources and certification programs. 4. Engage in internal training and mentoring programs within your organization. 5. Reflect on performance and seek feedback for self-improvement. 6. Stay updated on quality management systems and their updates. 7. Follow regulatory changes and align audits with updated guidelines.

It's imperative and desirable for an auditor to continually update their knowledge and skills to stay relevant within the industry and its best practices. I am a member of numerous professional organizations such as the IIA, ASQ, CQI, IRCA, SQI, and others, which provide insights into industry trends and the latest developments. Additionally, I set a goal every year to acquire two or more professional certifications, which fuels both my career growth and my professional knowledge about auditing and quality.

In order to maintain standards, -Check the pulse of shopfloor -Conduct layered process control -monitor KPI which respects to quality -set up a review platform which supports and reviews PDCA

Factors organizations should consider include: ●Creating a strong quality culture ●Conducting effective quality reviews of audits ●Remediating findings by obtaining the audit evidence ●Identifying root causes of findings ●Developing and implementing action plans to address those findings, and monitoring and revising these action plans to ensure that they are effective ●The ability to acquire and use knowledge — thinking, reasoning and solving problems. ●The ability to anticipate future trends accurately by extrapolating existing trends and facts and filling the gaps in knowledge by thinking innovatively. ●The awareness and application of existing and emerging digital technologies, capabilities, practices and strategies.

Talking from medical devices perspective, both the regulations and standards are constantly evolving and it is really important to track these changes and implement them to stay compliant. So from the manufacturer's point of view a good regulatory tracking system is required. The internal auditors must update themselves through continued training and learning. The notified bodies have good training programs. There are some good eLearning companies and many other organizations or even individuals conducting regular training programs.

Adhering to established standards is fundamental in the realm of quality auditing. Standards from bodies like ISO, IAASB, and IFAC set the guidelines and methodologies for audits. As a quality auditor, it's imperative to align with relevant standards pertinent to your domain and stay attuned to any revisions. Regularly checking newsletters, alerts, or the organizations' websites ensures your audit practices remain up to date and compliant with industry benchmarks.

Keeping abreast of regulatory changes ensures that my audit practices comply with the latest legal and regulatory requirements. I subscribe to updates from regulatory bodies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), The Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulatory bodies in and outside Nigeria. For instance, when new regulations related to standards, policies, frameworks e.t.c are introduced, I review the changes and adjust my audit procedures accordingly to ensure compliance.

Improve and build technical competency. Understanding the product and the process will help in becoming a better auditor. Keep updated on the different technological advancements. It will result in better quality of audits.

In my opinion, with the changing scenario around us and adoption of AI, ML, RPA, IoTs, in almost all fields one need to be abreast with learnings to understand, handle and review such changes. Joining various knowledge groups, professional related courses and active participations in study groups, seminars, one would find such updation and usage easy with flavor of practical approach.

Dedicating time to self-study and research helps in understanding new audit methodologies and industry trends. I regularly read industry publications, whitepapers, and research articles. For example, studying a whitepaper on the impact of blockchain technology on financial audits provides insights into how this technology can improve transparency and traceability in financial transactions.

Continuing education is a key component in sustaining your quality audit certification and competence. These courses keep you updated on pertinent industry topics and challenges. Some certification programs mandate a specific number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for renewal. Seek out online or in-person courses from professional associations, academic institutions, or training providers to fulfill these requirements and ensure your audit skills remain sharp and relevant.

Peer reviews also present a unique opportunity to gain experience in other professional sectors. While auditing skills are transferable, gaining expertise in a specific industry becomes more accessible through participation in peer reviews.

Participating in peer reviews is a valuable step to elevate your quality audit capabilities. Through this process, experienced auditors assess your work, offering constructive feedback and suggestions. Peer reviews illuminate your strengths, highlight areas for growth, and bolster your adherence to standards and ethics. Engagement in peer reviews enhances your professional credibility and fosters a positive reputation. You can actively partake in these reviews, whether as a reviewer or reviewee, contingent on your experience and qualifications. Don't hesitate to seek out peer reviews from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors to continually refine your audit skills.

Seeking feedback from peers and mentors helps identify areas for improvement and develop professionally. After completing an audit, I seek feedback from my colleagues and supervisors on my audit approach and documentation. For instance, constructive feedback on my risk assessment process helps me refine my techniques and improve the quality of my audits.

Concordo plenamente com os colegas, a partir de revis?es dos seus supervisores, vamos desenvolvendo a comunica??o, aprendizado, qualifica??o, feedback do nosso trabalho através da análise! A revis?o por pares, torna-se fundamental para nossa evolu??o! Com humildade, venho adquirindo conhecimento dia a dia! Gratid?o!

It's crucial to actively seek feedback from your clients and stakeholders as part of maintaining your quality audit certification and skills. These individuals hold a vested interest in the outcomes of your audits. By soliciting their opinions, suggestions, or concerns, you gain valuable insights into the extent to which you are meeting their expectations and requirements. This feedback serves as a critical resource for enhancing your audit procedures, communication, and reporting. To collect this feedback effectively, you can utilize surveys, conduct interviews, or arrange meetings with your clients and stakeholders.

Maintaining quality audit certification and skills in a changing environment involves continuous professional education, pursuing advanced certifications, staying updated with regulatory changes, participating in professional networks, leveraging technology, engaging in self-study and research, seeking feedback, adapting to industry changes, developing soft skills, and regularly renewing certifications. With over 8 years of experience as an auditor in banking and financial institutions, these strategies have enabled me to stay current, competent, and effective in my role, ensuring high quality audit outcomes.

Além da capacidade (através deles insights), de desenvolver a capacidade de solucionar problemas ou observar o fluxo realizado e captar onde necessita de melhorias! Valorizando seu conhecimento, trabalho e reconhecimento pessoal e profissional! Ser aberto a feedback efetivos e assertivos irá contribuir para qu WWW a Auditoria seja um fator contribuinte para assegurar a qualidade dos servi?os prestados! Avante