Quality Intermediate

Audits

ISO 9001 §9.2 — schedule and conduct internal audits (Process, Product, Supplier, System), record findings (Major NC, Minor NC, Observation, OFI), raise corrective actions from nonconformities, and close audits once the §9.2.2d report is recorded and every nonconformity finding is closed.

1 min read Quality Manager, Lead Auditor Updated August 2026

Section 01

What are Internal Audits?

2 minutes

Internal Audits in Brytebuild implement ISO 9001 §9.2 — the formal programme of planned checks against your QMS procedures and the ISO standard itself. Each audit has a lead auditor who must be independent of the area being audited (§9.2.2c), a defined scope and criteria, and a lifecycle that tracks it from scheduling through to closure.

  • Audits are planned with a title, type, area/process, lead auditor, auditee, scope and criteria
  • The lead auditor must be independent — nobody audits their own work (§9.2.2c)
  • Findings (nonconformities, observations, OFIs) are recorded directly against the audit
  • Major and minor nonconformities must each have a corrective action raised and verified effective before the audit can close
  • The audit closes only when the §9.2.2d report is recorded and every nonconformity finding is closed
  • Observations and Opportunities for Improvement never block audit closure
Clean audits are valid

If no findings are recorded, that is a perfectly valid audit outcome — a clean audit. The audit still requires the §9.2.2d report/conclusion to be entered before it can be closed.

Section 02

The audit list

2 minutes

Navigate to Quality → Audits to view the audit register. Each row shows the audit number, title, type, area, lead auditor, total findings count, current status and a View action.

Navigate toQualityAudits
PrintDownload ExcelSearch records…
NumberTitleTypeAreaLead AuditorFindingsStatusActions
AUD-2026-0001Q3 goods-in process auditProcessReceiving & InspectionSyed Naqeeb ul Haq1PlannedView
AUD-2026-0002Supplier audit — Steelco Fasteners LtdSupplierPurchasingSyed Naqeeb ul Haq0PlannedView
AUD-2026-0003M8 Mounting Bracket — Frame A product auditProductQuality LabSyed Naqeeb ul Haq0ClosedView
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Column What it shows
NumberAuto-assigned audit reference — e.g. AUD-2026-0001. Immutable.
TitleThe audit title — e.g. Q3 goods-in process audit.
TypeInternal (system), Process, Product, or Supplier. See Section 03 for definitions.
AreaThe process, product, or area being audited — e.g. Receiving & Inspection.
Lead AuditorThe person conducting the audit — must be independent of the area.
FindingsTotal findings recorded (all types). Open NC count shown in red on the record header when > 0.
Status● Planned (blue), ● Active (amber), or ● Closed (green). See Section 08.

Section 03

Scheduling an audit

2 minutes

Click + Schedule audit (top-right) to open the scheduling form inline. Define the audit criteria and scope per §9.2.2(b), assign an independent lead auditor, and click Schedule audit to create it at Planned status.

Navigate toQualityAudits+ Schedule audit

Schedule an Internal Audit

§9.2.2(b) — define the criteria and scope for each audit

Q3 goods-in process audit
Process
Receiving & Inspection
dd / mm / yyyy
Syed Naqeeb ul Haq

Must be independent of the area audited (§9.2.2c)

— select —
Goods-in receiving process for fastener batches from Steelco Fasteners Ltd — covering goods receipt, dimensional inspection, and documentation practices against QP-GI-001.
ISO 9001:2015 §8.4.3 (information to external providers), §8.6 (release of products), QP-GI-001 Goods-in inspection procedure, and DOC-2026-0001 Goods-in inspection procedure v2.
The lead auditor must be independent of the area — nobody audits their own work (ISO 9001 §9.2.2c). The audit can't be started until that holds.
Cancel Schedule audit
Field Required What to enter
TitleRequiredA clear, specific name — e.g. Q3 goods-in process audit, Supplier audit — Steelco Fasteners Ltd.
TypeOptionalInternal (system), Process, Product, or Supplier. Defaults to Process. See type cards below.
Area / ProcessOptionalThe specific area, process or product being audited — e.g. Receiving & Inspection, Assembly Bay.
Planned DateOptionalThe date the audit is planned to take place.
Lead AuditorOptionalThe person conducting the audit. Must be independent of the area (§9.2.2c). The audit cannot be started until an independent auditor is assigned.
Auditee (Process Owner)OptionalThe person responsible for the area or process being audited.
ScopeOptionalWhat this audit covers — the boundaries, processes and records to be reviewed. §9.2.2(b).
CriteriaOptionalThe ISO 9001 clauses, procedures and documents the audit is measured against. §9.2.2(b). E.g. ISO 9001:2015 §8.4.3, QP-GI-001, DOC-2026-0001 v2.

Audit types

Internal (system)

A system-level audit of the entire QMS — checking ISO 9001 clause compliance across the organisation. Typically conducted annually or per the audit programme.

Process

Audit of a specific operational process — e.g. goods-in receiving, production assembly, final inspection. Focuses on how the process is performed versus the defined procedure.

Product

Audit of a specific product or product line — e.g. M8 Mounting Bracket — Frame A (#MTB-0062). Verifies that the product meets specification and that records are complete.

Supplier

Audit of a supplier's quality systems and delivery performance — e.g. Steelco Fasteners Ltd. Assesses supplier capability against your requirements and ISO 9001 §8.4.

Edit uses the same form

Clicking Edit audit from the footer opens the same schedule form pre-filled with current values. All fields remain editable until the audit is closed.

Section 04

The audit record

2 minutes

Click View on any row to open the full audit record. The record has three sections: Audit Record (criteria, scope, report), Findings, and Workflow. The header shows the STATUS, FINDINGS count and OPEN NC count as colour-coded badges.

Audit Record

§9.2.2(b) — the criteria and scope this audit was performed against

Type

Process

Area / Process

Receiving & Inspection

Programme

—

Lead Auditor

Syed Naqeeb ul Haq

Auditee (Process Owner)

—

Planned / Actual

29 Jul 2026

Scope

Goods-in receiving process for fastener batches from Steelco Fasteners Ltd — covering goods receipt, dimensional inspection, and documentation practices against QP-GI-001.

Criteria

ISO 9001:2015 §8.4.3, §8.6; QP-GI-001 Goods-in inspection procedure; DOC-2026-0001 Goods-in inspection procedure v2.

Report / Conclusion (§9.2.2d)

—

Field What it shows
TypeThe audit classification — Internal (system), Process, Product, or Supplier.
Area / ProcessThe specific area being audited.
ProgrammeThe audit programme this audit belongs to (if an annual programme is set up).
Lead AuditorThe auditor conducting the audit — must be independent of the area.
AuditeeThe process owner / area manager being audited.
Planned / ActualThe planned date (or actual completion date once the audit is active/closed).
ScopeWhat this audit covers — processes, records and boundaries reviewed.
CriteriaThe ISO clauses, procedures and documents audited against.
Report / Conclusion (§9.2.2d)The written audit report and conclusion — required before the audit can be closed. Blank until entered.

Section 05

Recording findings

3 minutes

In the Findings section of the audit record, click + Add finding to record each observation. Each finding has a type, a description, and optional evidence. Nonconformities require a corrective action before the finding can be closed.

Findings (0)

Nonconformities must be actioned to closure; observations and OFIs never block

Add finding
No findings recorded. A clean audit is a valid outcome.

Once findings are recorded:

Findings (2)

Nonconformities must be actioned to closure; observations and OFIs never block

Add finding
Minor nonconformityAF-2026-0001
Open

Goods-in records for M8 Hex Bolts — Grade 8.8 batch PO-2026-0033 missing dimensional check sign-off against QP-GI-001 §4.2. 3 of 12 delivery notes reviewed had no inspector signature.

Evidence: Delivery notes DN-2026-0041, DN-2026-0042, DN-2026-0043 — signature field blank.

Raise corrective actionClose finding

A nonconformity closes only once its corrective action is verified effective (§10.2.1e).

Opportunity for improvementAF-2026-0002
Open

Consider implementing a digital sign-off workflow for goods-in inspection records to eliminate paper-based gaps and enable real-time traceability in Brytebuild.

Evidence: Observed during review of goods-in documentation — current paper-based process creates delay and risk of incomplete records.

Close finding
Finding field What to enter
TypeMajor nonconformity, Minor nonconformity, Observation, or Opportunity for improvement. See Section 06.
DescriptionWhat was found — specific, factual, referencing the procedure or clause breached or the opportunity identified.
EvidenceThe objective evidence supporting the finding — document references, record numbers, observations made.

Section 06

Finding types

1 minute

Every finding is classified into one of four types. The type determines whether a corrective action is required and whether the finding blocks audit closure:

Major nonconformity

Complete absence or systematic failure of a required QMS element — e.g. no documented procedure exists for a critical process, or an ISO 9001 clause requirement is entirely unaddressed.

🔴 Blocks audit closure — corrective action required

Minor nonconformity

An isolated lapse or deviation from a procedure — e.g. missing sign-off on 3 of 12 delivery notes, a form used that is not the current version, one instance of a calibration record not filed correctly.

🔴 Blocks audit closure — corrective action required

Observation

A situation that does not yet constitute a nonconformity but warrants monitoring — e.g. a process that is compliant today but shows early signs of deterioration or risk.

✅ Does not block closure

Opportunity for improvement

A suggestion for improvement that goes beyond current requirements — e.g. digitising a manual process, adding a preventive step, improving layout or communication.

✅ Does not block closure

Nonconformities require corrective actions

A major or minor nonconformity finding cannot be closed until a corrective action (CAPA) has been raised against it and verified effective (§10.2.1e). Use the Raise corrective action button on the finding card — this creates a linked CAPA record automatically.

Section 07

Workflow & closing an audit

2 minutes

The Workflow section at the bottom of the audit record lets you advance the status. Use the Advance Status dropdown to move through the lifecycle. An audit can only be closed when two conditions are both met:

  • The Report / Conclusion (§9.2.2d) field has been filled in the Audit Record section
  • Every nonconformity finding (major or minor) is Closed — i.e. its linked CAPA has been verified effective

Workflow

Closing needs the report recorded and every nonconformity finding closed (§9.2.2d–e)

Active
Go Back
Delete Edit audit
Footer button What it does
Go BackReturns to the audit list without any changes.
DeletePermanently removes the audit and all its findings.
Edit auditOpens the schedule form pre-filled with current values — update any field and save.

Section 08

Audit lifecycle

1 minute

Every internal audit moves through three statuses:

Status What's happening Requirements to advance
● PlannedAudit scheduled. Lead auditor assigned. Not yet started.Lead auditor must be independent of the area — then Advance Status to Active.
● ActiveAudit is underway. Findings are being recorded.Record the Report/Conclusion (§9.2.2d) and close all nonconformity findings — then Advance Status to Closed.
● ClosedAll findings resolved, report recorded. Audit complete.No further action. Audit retained for audit programme evidence (§9.2.2e).

What's next

CAPA

Corrective actions raised from audit findings are managed here — track progress to verified closure.

NCRs / Rejects

Audit nonconformity findings may be linked to existing NCRs or generate new ones.

Documents

Reference procedures and controlled documents as audit criteria evidence.

Management Review

Audit results and CAPA status are reviewed in the Management Review as required by ISO 9001 §9.3.

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