Internal audits of multi-site companies

Hello all,

We are a group of companies with currently 17 international sites that are part of our multi-site certification (ISO 9001, 14001 and 450001).

Previously, the internal audits at all sites were carried out by an audit team whose members were not part of the audited site.

Is it possible / permitted for the sites to audit themselves internally (with the exception that the auditor will of course not audit their own activities) or is there something against this according to the standards?

Hi Anthi,
This is possible, but having managed a multisite international internal audit program I would recommend evaluating your best option. I know nothing about your companies structure, but there are pros and cons to having a centralized auditing system. Basic pros are a unified inspection for the company as a whole, and the con is the cost may be difficult to place on the individual sites. I have overseen your approach and it can work, and is acceptable from a standards/regulatory view point.
Quinn

anthi said:

Hello all,

We are a group of companies with currently 17 international sites that are part of our multi-site certification (ISO 9001, 14001 and 450001).

Previously, the internal audits at all sites were carried out by an audit team whose members were not part of the audited site.

Is it possible / permitted for the sites to audit themselves internally (with the exception that the auditor will of course not audit their own activities) or is there something against this according to the standards?

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Yep sure is, I've got a couple clients that do exactly the same thing. Here's the deal, there isn't any restriction of an auditor auditing what they do unless you say so, but it could be a BMP (I see it done).

The key to any auditing is objectivity and impartiality (basically honesty, integrity, and ethics) and that is never a guarantee even with someone from the outside.