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Internal Audits
Sterling Foster Consulting provides Internal Audits and Gap Assessments to a variety of Quality System Standards. The objective of these audits is to ensure the QMS system meets the expectations of the ISO 9001 Standard. These audits are performed to:
- Evaluate daily standard work practices in accordance with documented work instructions, procedures or best practices
- In preparation of ISO 9001:2015 Third-Party Audits
- Transition assistance to the ISO 9001:2026 Standard
- To improve the effectiveness of the Quality Management System (QMS)
- To identify and correct systemic issues affecting KPI metric performance.
Quality Planning
Quality Planning includes the following services:
- Assisting with APQP, PPAP, and Phase Gate Design and Development strategies
- Develop Process FMEAs, Control Plans, and Process Maps
- Measurement Systems Analysis, Gage R&R Studies, and Inspection plans
- Lean 5S, Value Stream Mapping, or Kanban System Kaizen Blitz facilitator
- Create Procedures, Work Instructions, Visual Aids, or Standard Work documents
Corrective Actions
Effective corrective actions utilizing Quality Tools, such as 5-Why analysis, Ishikawa Fish Bone analysis, and/or process mapping charts are used to identify true root causes. When done well, they improve quality, prevent recurrence, and strengthen overall systems.
Corrective actions should be used for:
- Preventing issues and problems from reappearing
- Improve quality and performance
- Reduce costs over time
- Encourage continuous improvement
- Strengthen compliance and risk management
- Build trust and credibility
Quality Support
Quality Support is intended for organizations that need experienced help with ongoing quality responsibilities but do not always need full-time internal resources. Whether the team is managing customer requirements, future compliance opportunities, inspection demands, documentation challenges, open corrective actions, or production-related quality concerns, outside consulting support can help prevent important work from falling behind.
Plan the Audit and Confirm Scope
Confirm ISO 9001:2015 and internal QMS audit criteria
Review audit schedule, departments, and process coverage
Prepare and issue audit check sheets
Clarify records, procedures, work instructions, and metrics to review
Execute, Report, and Follow Through
Document major findings, minor findings, and opportunities for improvement
Generate corrective action requests for nonconformances
Issue an audit report as a historical QMS record
Support follow-up, verification, and management review inputs
What Internal Audits Commonly Evaluate
Internal audits can be tailored to the needs of your organization, but they frequently examine how the QMS defines scope, how stakeholders and requirements are understood, how quality objectives are established and monitored, how changes are managed, how complaints and returns are handled, and how corrective actions are verified. They can also evaluate how management review addresses audit results, resource needs, risk and opportunity actions, and improvement opportunities.
Popular Question
Below are common questions clients ask when planning internal audits or deciding how much support they need before an upcoming ISO or customer audit.
Internal audits can cover ISO 9001:2015 requirements,
internal QMS requirements, documented procedures, work
instructions, records, training evidence, metrics,
communications, and department-level process performance.
The exact scope is defined before the audit begins.
A major finding reflects ineffective implementation or
absence of one or more required process elements, or a
condition that creates significant doubt that products or
services will meet requirements. A minor finding is
typically isolated, not systemic, and less likely to
adversely affect the customer.
When a nonconformance is found, the organization should
control and correct it, evaluate the need for action to
eliminate the cause, determine whether similar issues
exist elsewhere, implement needed actions, and review the
effectiveness of those corrective actions. Documented
information should be retained as evidence.
Yes. Audit results are a key management review input. They
help leadership evaluate QMS performance, process
effectiveness, nonconformities, corrective actions,
resource adequacy, actions on risks and opportunities, and
opportunities for improvement.
Absolutely. A strong internal audit helps identify gaps
early, improve readiness, strengthen corrective action
before the outside audit occurs, and provide leadership
with a clearer picture of where the system is effective
and where follow-up is needed.
