If you work for an organization involved with meeting the requirements of a quality system standard, specification, or government regulation, sooner or later you will be on the receiving end of a quality system audit.

The auditor might be one who works for:
• Your organization (an internal auditor)
• An outside “registrar” (a certification auditor)
• A customer (a supplier auditor)
• A government agency (often referred to by names not used in polite conversation because, unlike the other auditors, they typically arrive unannounced)

Sometimes being audited is upsetting and it doesn’t go well. Other times it isn’t upsetting and you come through with flying colors. The difference is really simple. If you are prepared, you will do well. If you are not prepared, you won’t.
The good news is you will be prepared if you know:
• What the auditor will do
• How the auditor will do it
• What the auditor will expect of you
• How you should respond

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