Background

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a substantial shift to remote working in life, including remote audits for management system certifications and accreditations, such as those for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 13485, ISO 27001, IATF 16949, etc.

Survey

During the first Semester 2021, IAF/ILAC/ISO jointly conducted a survey about the experiences with remote audits and expectations for the future. The survey aimed to obtain the views of a wide range of stakeholders on the use of remote techniques. A total of 4,320 answers have been received, 57% of them from persons being audited remotely and 29 % of them from persons being part of an audit team.

Result Summary

  • The overwhelming majority was in general satisfied or “somewhat satisfied” with the remote auditing.
  • Regarding the output of remote audits, 37% agreed that assuming an ideal set-up, a remote audit provides as much confidence as an on-site audit, 43 % agreed only somewhat, and 20 % disagreed.
  • 56% disagreed that effectiveness of remote audits was lower compared to traditional on-site audit.
  • As biggest benefits, the respondents considered: 1. Possibility to keep the certifications/accreditations (86,1%) ; 2. Reduced travel risks during pandemic (80,1%);  3. Reduced travel time and costs (79,8%); 4. Reduced environmental footprint (74.%).

The Use of Remote Audits in the Future

  • The majority (57 %) think that organizations can to some extend effectively benefit from a remote audit (integrated with on-site audit).
  • 33% think that that organizations can benefit to a great extend from a remote audit (remote audits become the preferred method);
  • Only 9% think that remote audits should only be used only in exceptional cases.

Important Areas for Improvements:

  • Audit disruption due to poor internet connection.
  • Time-consuming preparation for remote audits.

At time without pandemic restrictions

  • 60% would prefer blended (on-site + remote) audits.
  • 21% would prefer traditional on-site audits.
  • 19% would prefer fully remote audit with connection via digital tools.

Coming actions

In the coming months, IAF, ILAC and ISO, will further analyse the results and consider the steps necessary, to incorporate the outcomes in the relevant documents and processes as the world moves to a ‘new normal’ as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More details about the survey results can be found in the report posted at IAF website.

對遠程審核的體驗和期望的調查

背景

COVID-19 新冠病毒疫情導致生活中的遠程工作發生重大轉變，這也包括對管理體系認證和認可的遠程審核，例如 ISO 9001、ISO 14001、ISO 45001、ISO 13485、ISO 27001 等標準。

調查

在2021 年上半年，國際認可聯盟 (IAF)/國際實驗室認可聯盟 (ILAC) /國際標準組織 (ISO) 聯合開展了一項關於遠程審核經驗和對未來期望的調查。該調查旨在獲得廣泛的利益相關者對遠程技術使用的看法。共收到 4,320 份答复，其中 57% 來自接受過遠程審核的人員，29% 來自審核團隊成員。

結果總結

  • 絕大多數人對遠程審核總體上感到滿意或“有些滿意”；
  • 關於遠程審核的結果，37% 的人同意遠程審核提供的信心與現場審核一樣，43% 的人表示有點同意，20% 的人不同意；
  • 56% 的人不同意遠程審核的有效性比傳統的現場審核低；
  • 作為最大的好處，受訪者認為： 1. 保持認證/認可 (86.1%) ，2. 降低大流行期間的旅行風險（80.1%），3. 減少旅行時間和成本 (79.8%)，4. 減少環境足跡 (74.%)。

未來遠程審計的使用

  • 大多數 (57%) 認為組織可以在一定程度上有效地受益於遠程審核（與現場審核相結合）；
  • 33% 的人認為組織可以從遠程審計中受益匪淺（遠程審核成為首選方法）；
  • 只有 9% 的人認為僅應在特殊情況下才應使用遠程審核。

需要改進的重要領域

  • 由於互聯網連接不良導致審核中斷；
  • 耗時的遠程審核准備工作。

在沒有疫情限制的將來

  • 60% 的人更喜歡混合 (現場 + 遠程) 審核；
  • 21% 的人更喜歡傳統的現場審核；
  • 19% 的人更喜歡通過數字工具連接的完全遠程審核。

下一步行動

在接下來的幾個月裡，隨著世界因 COVID-19 進入“新常態”，IAF、ILAC 和 ISO 將進一步分析調查結果並考慮必要的步驟，將結果納入相關文件和流程。

有關調查結果的更多詳細信息可以在 IAF 網站上發布的報告中查看。

Technical Support by DQS 技術支援:

  • DQS Academy provides public training courses to help customers understand the standards.
    DQS學堂 提供公開培訓課程，協助客戶理解標準要求。