Stage 1 Audits

The objectives of a Stage 1 Audit are to:

• Assess your Documented Management System
• Evaluate your Locations and any site-specific conditions
• Assess your understanding of the requirements of the standard
• Agree the scope of your Documented Management System, processes and location(s) and related statutory and regulatory aspects and associated risks
• Plan the Stage 2 Audit and establish your planning arrangements for Internal Audits and Management Reviews
• Determine your readiness for a Stage 2 Audit
• Identify any areas for potential Improvement of the Management System

Stage 2 Audits, Re-Audits and Transfer Re-Audits

The objectives of a Stage 2 Audit are to:

• Evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of your Management System
• Assess your performance against key performance objectives and targets (monitoring, measuring, reporting and reviewing)
• Evaluate your legal compliance, operational control of processes, Internal Audits, Management Reviews and Policies
• Evaluate links between the normative requirements, policy, performance objectives and targets, responsibilities, competence of personnel, operations, procedures, and performance data.
• Identify any areas for potential Improvement of the Management System

Surveillance Audits and Surveillance Takeover Audits

The objectives of a Surveillance Audit are to:

• Ensure your Management System has continued to fulfil requirements between Audits
• Ensure Internal Audits and Management Review have been performed to programme
• Review actions taken on nonconformities identified during previous Audits
• Evaluate your handling of any complaints
• Evaluate the continued effectiveness of the management system, with regard to achieving your objectives
• Evaluate your legal compliance and performance
• Evaluate your progress of planned activities aimed at continual improvement
• Ensure continuing operational control
• Review any changes to your organisation since the previous Audit
• Ensure that ACS Registrars and the Accreditation Body marks are being used correctly
• Identify any areas for potential Improvement of the Management System

Validation Audits

The objective of a Validation Audit is to:

• Ensure your Management System has continued to fulfil requirements between Audits
• Ensure Internal Audits and Management Review have been performed to programme
• Review actions taken on nonconformities identified during previous Audits
• Evaluate your handling of any complaints
• Evaluate the continued effectiveness of the management system, with regard to achieving your objectives
• Ensure continuing operational control
• Identify any areas for potential Improvement of the Management System

Unscheduled visits

The objective of an Un-Scheduled Audit will be defined separately, as each Audit of this type is unique.