60 Seconds with Joe Kelly

Audits against

ISO 9001 (QMS), ISO 14001 (EMS), ISO 50001 (EnMS), OHSAS 18001

Most memorable auditing moment

Memorable moments stick in my mind due to locations & industries that I often have the privilege to visit. A recent multisite client resulted in a week tour of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland, taking me from Inverness to Kirkwall, Wick, Stornoway & Elgin.  

Being able to work with the client throughout different remote locations allowed the client to gain added value from the audit processes that provided additional improvements; that was personally rewarding.

Most common non-conformance

At Stage 1 & Stage 2 audit, it is common for clients not to be fully prepared. This can lead to a host of non-conformances that they were not aware of, mainly legal compliance non-conformances. Recent examples of how clients prepared well included taking advantage of having me conduct a Gap Analysis in advance of Stage 1. This highlighted issues that they were not aware of which could have compromised them being recommended for registration at stage 2 audit.

Greatest client benefit gained from ISO certification

Reduced H&S and environmental risks will always be of benefit to the customer. Having the assurance of delivering customer requirements is another key business benefit of having a well implemented ISO 9001 quality management system.

Top tip for getting the most from your management system

Don’t let your management system tell you what to do – you should always tell your management system what you want it to do!