Frequently Asked Questions

Which sectors do you offer your services?

Our clients can be found across commerce and industry: Included are Research; Design and Production, Logistic, and commercial enterprises such as Staff Recruitment and Customer Support Enterprises.  These have one common feature, the application of international management system standards to their operations, mainly including formal registration, but not exclusively so.

  • Why should I choose you?

Whatever our client assignment, we bring to it our knowledge and understanding of the business management task, together with our virtually unique concept of the application of the internal audit process.  We believe firmly that internal audit should not be imposed on business operations but received as a support activity.  Our outsourced audit service is unique in both concept and conduct, as it is also a natural extension of both the technical and managerial consultancy activities of our business.

  • Are all your assignments delivered on a fixed cost basis?

All projects that can be clearly defined as to resource requirements and measurable results are offered as a fixed cost contract.  Some activities are ongoing with no clear end, for example, our Interim Manager Appointments we generally provide on a 'daily rate' basis. The advantage of 'fixed cost to complete' is the certainty of total cost for the client and revenue for the consultant.

  • In what way can you improve an existing documented management system that already satisfies the requirements for registration?

The requirements for registration are not synonymous with efficiency and effectiveness. By fully understanding the true intent of the applicable Standard, and the nature of your business and staff, we work with employees and managers to remove unnecessary bureaucracy that hinders initiative and progress. The result is a slimmer and more acceptable business management system which will also satisfy the requirements for ISO registration.

What outsourced audit programs do you cover?

  • - We cover internal audit for ISO based management systems.
  • - Project Audits – Scientific; industrial; commercial.
  • - Process audits.
  • - ISO Standard registration audits (for registrars).
  • - Vendor capability and performance audit.
  • - ISO based management system development and improvement.
  • - Vendor audit: including ongoing surveillance and product evaluation.

In addition to outsourced auditing, do you offer any other services?

Yes, we provide training and mentoring for Internal Audit teams. We can migrate an existing audit team from basic ‘compliance’, or train an entirely new audit team. However, with either option, the staff audit team will still lack the wider experience possessed by our IRCA Lead Auditors.  We also provide support for Quality Engineering in design and production, along with training and technical support for management and project managers, including the preparation of management plans and customer interface activities.

Why do you describe your audit style as risk assessment?

Audits have traditionally concentrated on the failure to follow documented procedures, without significant regard for the adequacy of such documentation. We conduct audits to identify the 'risks in continuing to operate as you currently do'. This produces information upon which managers can assess their priorities and determine appropriate actions: Which may mean no action at all. This methodology empowers rather than constrains decision making.

What do you mean by auditor mentoring?

To successfully introduce auditors to our audit methodology, they and their managers need ongoing supervision and guidance. The audit method requires a new approach, not just in the auditor activity, but in that of auditees and managers who are the sponsors of the audit. The most successful transfer of skills comes, we find, from having an ongoing involvement with the audit process over an extended time.

If we outsource our audit program to your organisation will you also manage the interface with our ISO registrar?

Yes, by arrangement we will also manage the ISO surveillance visit.  This is familiar territory, as we have firsthand experience managing registration audits, our presence can significantly mitigate that stressful feeling some clients may entertain during such surveillance.