Audits are regularly undertaken on companies to ensure they meet standards such as ISO 9001:2015. Achieving these standards provides your organisation with many benefits, both internal and external.
Often as the lead of the sales/bidding function, I have represented my employer or client, there is a real pressure to get it right. Mindset is everything, approach an audit from a perspective that you can demonstrate the effectiveness of what you do and how; but also be open to learning and improvement.
A mini list of how to achieve audit success: –
Regularly:-
- Make sure your departmental procedure reflects what you do, if not revise it
- Brief new staff on the procedure and explain how it works in practice
- Provide staff with the appropriate level of training
- Ensure access to systems, information and storage, is available for staff to deliver.
On the day of audit:-
- Have a positive, open and helpful mindset
- Ensure staff are aware that the audit is taking place
- Have access to your departmental procedure
- Be clear and focus on the questions asked
- Have some best-case examples of your works prepared, should you be asked to provide examples
- Take suggestions and recommendations on board
