Finally, a comprehensive process audit checklist has been developed to be used with ISO/TS 16949:2002! This checklist does what many others do not: it groups the questions by process rather than by standard clauses, thus automatically guiding the auditor to conduct a process approach audit. This manual was developed to assist anyone involved with conducting or planning quality system audits, including quality auditors, quality managers, quality system coordinators, management representatives, and quality engineers. In addition, potential auditees in any function or position should find the questions useful in preparing for an audit. The manual includes: a brief overview of the process approach; discussion of problem areas often found by third party auditors; the process audit checklist; and forms to be used in conjunction with the process audit checklist to increase audit effectiveness.
As a third party auditor, the author has seen the limitations in internal quality audit processes due to inexperienced internal auditors, as many just aren't sure what questions to ask because they only audit once or twice a year. Utilizing this checklist takes the guesswork out of the internal audit process.
