How to digitise an internal audit process?
An internal (or external) audit usually refers to an operation to check a process, an organisation or accounts against a given reference framework by a competent professional. Although it is traditionally carried out with a pen and paper, more and more sectors are now tending to digitalise it…
Why conduct an internal audit?
Carrying out an effective and relevant audit is a strategic point in the life of a company. Indeed, the audit makes it possible to ensure that several elements (processes, financial statements, organisation, etc.) are in conformity with a standard. The audit is therefore an expertise delivered by a competent professional in view of a certain standard. Identifying deviations from this standard is therefore crucial for the company to identify its areas for vigilance and improvement. In addition, there are real issues linked to the audit process. Indeed, the audit allows the detection of anomalies and risks in the organisations it examines. In addition, some standards can only be issued to a company after verification by an audit.
How to conduct an audit?
Before carrying out an audit, it is important to distinguish between the different types of audits and their purpose. The two main types of audits are internal and external. These audits can then focus on different elements such as a process, a system, or a product. In all cases, the audit consists of a “systematic and methodical approach” which can be divided into three phases: Planning, Execution, and Information.
Planning sets out the conditions under which the audit is to take place, particularly by answering the 5Ws (What? Why? Where? When? Who?). Once the planning stage is well defined, the audit can be carried out. This is the Execution stage. The auditor will then check what he/she is to audit against his/her baseline. Once this stage is completed, there is the Information stage. This is the stage during which the auditor gives feedback on what he has observed.
Auditing in the age of Industry 4.0.
Auditing can be considered as an essential tool in the application of a Lean approach since it allows for a continuous improvement approach (Kaizen). Thanks to this approach, it is easier to identify non-compliance points to correct them. To simplify and save time, internal audits are increasingly digitised. There are several applications and models for this, depending on what you want to audit.
This is particularly the case with the SESA CHECK application. Thanks to a simple and refined interface, the auditor chooses his or her reference model for the audit and enters the audit information such as the department audited, the name of the person audited, the date, etc. The application then generates the list of points to be checked and the questions that need to be answered for the audit to be carried out correctly. At the end of the audit, a report in PDF format can be generated and sent by e-mail. The next time the audit is carried out, it is advisable to check again the points of vigilance identified and to verify that all the other points are still in conformity. To learn more about SESA CHECK and its use in industry, you can visit our page dedicated to the SESA CHECK application.
