The IAF changes the rules

New rules on audit duration are being developed by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which could affect many holders of ISO 9001. Certification bodies (CBs) will be expected to use the new document to develop new procedures for assessing how long an audit will take, taking into consideration factors other than the size of the client organisation. The hope is that this new approach will create greater consistency of the length of audits between CBs.

Work has been underway concerning audit duration for quality management system audits since a group was set up by the ISO 9001 advisory group last year, with suggestions for a more scientific approach. If approved later this year, CBs that issue management system certificates accredited by the IAF will have to use the new rules.         

CBs will still set their own auditor day rates and there are no minimum or maximum audit times, meaning that if the rules are not followed this won’t necessarily be classed as a nonconformance under ISO/IEC 17021. However, the draft does state that ‘if inconsistencies to this mandatory document are found on a more regular basis, this could form the basis for nonconformity against ISO/IEC 17021.’

Factors that will now be taken into account when assessing the time an audit will take include the number of buildings involved, different languages being used and industries such as food or pharmaceuticals where a large number of regulations are involved. However, factors that could reduce the time taken could now include low risk products, maturity of the management system and processes that involve only one activity.