AS9100 Internal Audit Procedure

When auditing an aerospace business process it is important to determine how much process planning has gone into the creation of the process and the system of processes that it belongs to. Many aircraft manufacturers appear to combine their business processes together with little systems planning, that it is no wonder why it is hard to achieve planned results.

Business process planning means that each element of the process has been determined. As an AS9100 auditor, we want to understand how much the process participants (employees) understand about their process. The AS9100 Internal Audit Procedure describes the company’s Internal Audit process. The procedure applies to all operations affecting or affected by the company’s QMS. (8 pages, 2479 words)

AS9100 Internal Audit Procedure Responsibilities

The Lead Auditor is responsible for managing the Internal Audit process, developing, and managing the Company’s Internal Audit program, and supervising Audit Team members. The Lead Auditor is also responsible for reporting the Audit Team’s findings to top management.

Internal Auditors are responsible for conducting complete, detailed, and objective Internal Audits and reporting their findings in an objective manner.

All Employees are responsible for cooperating with Internal Auditors during the audit process and for taking appropriate actions, where required, to correct nonconformities found during the audit.

Internal Audit Procedure Definitions

Audit checklist – A list of questions designed to provide guidance and ensure consistency of audits.

Audit plan – Description or outline of the purpose, scope, objectives and activities of an audit.

Audit program – Annual schedule of audits to be accomplished, summarizing areas to be audited and listing auditors (also known as an “audit schedule”).

Auditee – Organization, area, function, or department being audited.

Auditor – Individual who carries out an audit; specifically, one who is qualified and authorized to perform all or part of an audit by way of training and experience.

Lead Auditor – One who supervises an Audit Team (consisting of the Lead and at least one other Auditor) before and during an audit and for reporting and corrective actions after the audit; also, an individual qualified and authorized to manage and direct an audit by way of advanced training and/or significant experience.

A Lead Auditor should have a thorough understanding of audit principles and application of auditing techniques. He/she must be capable of organizing and directing audits, reporting audit findings, and evaluating planned and implemented corrective actions. The Lead Auditor should have also taken part in at least two audits as a qualified auditor (not provisional) before assuming the Lead Auditor position.

Major Nonconformity – Audit conclusion, supported by objective evidence, identifying a condition that is detrimental to the integrity of the product or service or where there is a probability of significant adverse impact on the Company’s QMS; a system breakdown, or failure to meet a requirement; a condition resulting in a product failure for its intended purpose.

Minor Nonconformity – Audit conclusion, supported by objective evidence, identifying a single instance or condition of a system failure or lapse to meet a requirement.

Objective evidence – Qualitative or quantitative information, records, or statements of fact supporting Internal Audit findings.

Observation – Audit conclusion, not supported by evidence, identifying a potential weakness in the QMS; may also be a positive note concerning the QMS.

Provisional auditor – One who may have received auditor training but has little to no auditing experience; cannot conduct a quality audit without Lead Auditor supervision.

Quality Management System (QMS) – the system used to ensure the delivery of a quality product.

Sampling – Selecting a number of items from within a population, for making inferences about the population.

Internal Audit Procedure AS9100 Activities

AS9100 Internal Audit Program (Schedule)
Aerospace Internal Audit Planning
Conducting the AS9100 Internal Audit
AS9100 Internal Audit Reporting
AS9100 Internal Audit Follow-Up

Aerospace References

AS9100:2016 Rev D, “Quality Management Systems – Audit Requirements for Aviation, Space, and Defense Organizations”, SAE International, Sept., 2016.
AS9101:2016 Rev F, “Quality Management Systems – Requirements for Aviation, Space, and Defense Organizations”, SAE International, Oct., 2016.
AS9100 Quality Procedures