How to be a Quality Auditor?

The Q is Quality stands for Questioning. As a good auditor, not only should you be asking the appropriate questions, you need to also have the right technique in asking questions.

These are 10 tips to be a quality auditor

• Be clear why you are asking the question; what is it you are hoping to achieve?

• Be prepared to explain why you are asking that question.

• Be prepared to rephrase or expand a question if the initial answer you receive is not what you want.

• Consider who you are speaking to and modify your vocabulary and tone of voice appropriately.

• Use open questions (Kipling's six serving men - What, Why, When, How, Where and Who - and show me) to probe and establish facts.

• Avoid asking leading questions, e.g. 'surely you do not do that...do you?', or end up answering your own question!

• Closed questions are useful for verifying e.g. 'So you completed the URS before starting the DQ?'

• Ensure the auditee understands the question. Look out for blank or confused faces!

• Ask the same question, or similar, to different people to check for consistency in response.

• And remember the power of silence.

There also should include the Audit Plan, Audit Opening meeting, Audit Closing meeting Checklist and a detailed Audit Findings report.

Source: Sanjay N.