Internal Audits

What internal audits are for

An Internal Audit is a self-check against your own QMS (AS9100, ISO 9001, N299, Nadcap, etc.). Regular audits catch drift before the external auditor does. Typical cadence: monthly per area, quarterly for full QMS.

Menu: Plating → Quality → Internal Audits.

Box ① + New. Box ② column header with filters (by area, by status, by auditor). Box ③ open an audit record.

Creating an audit

Click + New:

Checklist templates

Seed common checklists under Plating → Configuration → Audit Checklists:

• AS9100 clause-by-clause
• Nadcap AC7108 chemical processing
• CSA N299 nuclear program
• Customer-specific surveillance audits

A checklist has N items; during audit, each gets a Pass/Fail/NA + observation.

Running the audit

1. On audit day, open the record.
2. Walk the floor with the checklist.
3. Check each item Pass / Fail / NA.
4. For Fails, enter the observation (what you saw, objective evidence).
5. Photos / documents attached as evidence.

Findings → CAPAs

After audit completion:

• Any Fail becomes a Finding on the audit.
• Each Finding can auto-spawn a CAPA if systemic (use the Create CAPA button).
• Each CAPA runs through normal CAPA workflow (see that guide).

Closing the audit

Close conditions:

• All checklist items answered.
• Findings categorized (major / minor / observation / opportunity-for-improvement).
• Each major/minor has a linked CAPA.
• Report generated (PDF) + distributed to stakeholders.

Audit state flips to Closed. History preserved for external audit reference.

What can go wrong

Audit takes too long to close

Findings have open CAPAs that aren't closing. Push the CAPA owners.

External auditor disputes a finding

Your Finding record is the evidence. Keep detailed observations + photos.

Can't link a Finding to CAPA

Only Quality Manager role can create CAPAs. Delegate or escalate.