In his recent LinkedIn article, PJLA’s Technical & International Business Development Manager, Dr. George Anastasopoulos, reflects on why process-based auditing, though introduced with ISO 9001:2000, continues to challenge auditors/assessors more than two decades later.
Drawing from years of experience as an auditor, assessor, and auditee, Dr. Anastasopoulos notes that many audits/assessments remain focused on paperwork, checklists, and documented procedures instead of exploring whether processes truly deliver value. He suggests that this often stems from two main causes:
- Gaps in competence, auditors/assessors who are less confident in evaluating processes beyond documentation.
- Comfort zones, auditors/assessors who rely on familiar tools rather than engaging directly with people and activities where processes happen.
This trend risks reducing the credibility of audits/assessments and leaves organizations viewing them as routine box-ticking exercises.
Yet, the outlook is far from bleak. Dr. Anastasopoulos emphasizes that process-based auditing is not only possible but transformative, if auditors embrace a shift in perspective. By stepping out of the meeting room, following the flow from inputs to outputs, and assessing whether processes achieve their intended results, audits/assessments can once again serve their purpose: building trust, driving improvement, and delivering assurance.
👉 Read the full article here: Management Systems Process-Based Auditing: Mission Impossible!
