Auditing is a journey. Like all successful journeys, some special preparations may be required like a positive attitude, good planning, seamless execution, and a solid end goal in mind. This is the same when auditing, the auditor or audit team embarks on a journey that requires a collection of personal skills and specialized auditor characteristics to ensure a positive outcome - the achievement of the audit objective. By the end of the audit journey, the true value of an audit can be appreciated through value-added findings that save time and money within the management system. Ultimately, that is what each auditor should do, bring value to the organization through the effective review of the efficiency and suitability of the management system. Although it may sound easy to some, preparing for the audit journey may not come naturally to everyone, but unlocking a few secrets to successful auditing may make all the difference.
ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems identifies audit best practices, including the Principles of Auditing[1]. These principles are included in Figure 1, [2] and auditing is characterized by a reliance on these principles. These principles are critical in supporting the audit process as they offer insight as to how to execute the audit journey. From professionalism and integrity to risk-based thinking, these principles ensure that audit conclusions are fair, representative, and based on verifiable evidence.