{"id":3063,"date":"2026-07-16T01:58:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T17:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shmoualsalamart.com\/blog\/?p=3063"},"modified":"2026-07-16T01:58:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T17:58:57","slug":"what-are-the-common-findings-in-a-quality-system-audit-450a-140c68","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.shmoualsalamart.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/16\/what-are-the-common-findings-in-a-quality-system-audit-450a-140c68\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the common findings in a Quality System Audit?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey there! I’m part of a quality system audit supplier team, and I’ve been knee – deep in these audits for quite some time. In this blog, I’m gonna share with you the common findings in a quality system audit. Quality System Audit<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Document Control Issues<\/h3>\n

One of the most frequent things we come across is problems with document control. You know, every company should have a proper system to manage their quality – related documents. But a lot of the time, we find that the document versions are all over the place. There might be outdated procedures still hanging around in the system, and employees are using them without even realizing it.<\/p>\n

For example, I was auditing a manufacturing company once. They had a procedure for assembling a particular product. The latest version of the procedure had some crucial changes to improve the quality, but many of the workers were still following the old one. This led to a high rate of defective products.<\/p>\n

Another issue is the lack of proper document approval. Sometimes, new documents are created and put into use without getting the necessary sign – offs from the relevant departments. This can cause chaos because there’s no clear authority on whether the document is valid or not.<\/p>\n

Training and Competence Gaps<\/h3>\n

Training is a big deal in quality systems. We often find that employees aren’t properly trained for their jobs. It’s not just about the initial training when they start; it’s also about ongoing training to keep up with new processes and technologies.<\/p>\n

Take a software development firm we audited. They were developing a new application, but a significant number of their developers hadn’t received training on the latest coding standards. As a result, the code was full of bugs and security vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n

And it’s not just technical training. Soft skills like communication and teamwork are also important. We’ve seen companies where the lack of proper communication between different departments has led to misunderstandings and quality issues. For instance, the sales team might promise customers a certain delivery date without consulting the production team, and then the production team can’t meet that deadline, causing customer dissatisfaction.<\/p>\n

Process Non – Conformities<\/h3>\n

Processes are the backbone of any quality system. But we frequently find non – conformities in them. A process might be documented, but in reality, it’s not being followed.<\/p>\n

In a food processing plant, we found that the sanitation process for the equipment wasn’t being carried out as per the documented procedure. The workers were supposed to clean the equipment at specific intervals and use a particular cleaning agent. But they were skipping steps and using a different, less effective cleaner. This posed a risk to the safety of the food products.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, the processes themselves are flawed. They might be too complex or not well – defined. For example, in a service – based company, the customer complaint handling process was so convoluted that it took ages to resolve a simple issue. This led to a high rate of customer churn.<\/p>\n

Supplier Management Problems<\/h3>\n

Supplier management is another area where we often find issues. A company’s quality is only as good as its suppliers. We’ve seen cases where companies don’t have a proper evaluation process for their suppliers.<\/p>\n

A construction company we audited was using building materials from a supplier without really checking their quality. The supplier had a history of delivering sub – standard materials, but the construction company didn’t have a system in place to monitor this. As a result, the buildings they were constructing had structural problems.<\/p>\n

Also, there’s often a lack of communication with suppliers. Contracts might not be clear about the quality requirements, and there’s no follow – up to ensure that the suppliers are meeting those requirements.<\/p>\n

Internal Audit and Corrective Action Shortcomings<\/h3>\n

Internal audits are supposed to be a way for companies to identify and fix problems in their quality systems. But we often find that the internal audit process is weak.<\/p>\n

Some companies don’t conduct internal audits regularly. Or when they do, the audits are not thorough. They might just skim the surface and not dig deep into the real issues.<\/p>\n

And then there’s the corrective action part. Even when problems are identified, the corrective actions taken are often ineffective. For example, a company might identify a problem with a particular production process, but their corrective action is just a band – aid solution. They don’t address the root cause of the problem, so the issue keeps coming back.<\/p>\n

Measurement and Analysis Deficiencies<\/h3>\n

Measurement and analysis are crucial for continuous improvement in a quality system. But we find that many companies struggle in this area.<\/p>\n

They might not have the right metrics in place to measure the performance of their processes. For example, a logistics company might be measuring the number of deliveries made, but they’re not measuring the on – time delivery rate. This means they’re not getting a clear picture of how well their delivery process is working.<\/p>\n

And even when they have the metrics, they don’t analyze the data properly. They might collect a lot of data, but they don’t look for trends or patterns. As a result, they miss opportunities to improve their processes.<\/p>\n

Management Commitment Issues<\/h3>\n

Finally, we often see problems related to management commitment. Quality should be a top – down initiative, but in many companies, the management doesn’t seem to be fully committed.<\/p>\n

They might talk about the importance of quality, but they don’t allocate enough resources for it. For example, they might not invest in the necessary training or equipment to improve quality.<\/p>\n

Also, management might not be actively involved in the quality system. They don’t participate in internal audits or review the results. This sends a message to the employees that quality isn’t really a priority.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you’re in the market for a quality system audit, we’re here to help. We’ve got the experience and the know – how to identify these common issues and work with you to fix them. Whether you’re a small startup or a large corporation, we can tailor our audit services to meet your specific needs. Reach out to us and let’s start a conversation about how we can improve your quality system.<\/p>\n

Quality System Audit<\/a> References:<\/p>\n