Auditing Beyond Compliance: Using the Portable Universal Quality Lean Audit Model

This publication introduces a portable audit model to facilitate a simple, flexible, and effective audit of single or multiple quality system standards and achieve both compliance and initiation of improvement initiatives. This model is similar to a universal adaptor plug, allowing easy connection and interchangeability of the multiple standards even under rapid system changes typical of modern day operations. This universal plug will allow focus on compliance verification and improvement at a high level of consistency with minimum process disruption and cost. Emphasis is not only on compliance but also on improvement partnership with operations through the use of strategy models. These strategy models will help accentuate the internal audit role as a dynamic element and catalyst for improvement. Real life-based challenges (masked identity) are used in case studies to demonstrate the application of typical internal audit methodologies combined with an implementation engine such as Lean auditing strategies. This will clarify theories that are commonly viewed as abstract by the novice and, in some cases, misunderstood by experienced professionals. This is the breakthrough from a dormant internal audit program into a proactive tool for added-value improvement. Lean methodology is integrated through simple models that don't require one to be a Lean or Black Belt guru. The focus is using logical sense to understand and apply the concept.