Internal audit is a core function for any business. Whether you are a large corporation or a budding SME looking to get a foothold in the market, it is crucial to have an internal audit mechanism.
It will help you check whether your organisation is complying with the relevant standards and the ongoing processes complies with the rules and regulations set by the company.
To become an eco-friendly organisation, you need to establish a robust internal auditing mechanism as well. However, creating an effective internal audit system requires a lot of planning and resources. Therefore, more and more SMEs consider outsourcing their internal audit function a more viable option.
ISO-compliant organisations may consider outsourced internal audits to help them remain compliant with relevant standards. Here are some advantages of outsourcing your internal quality and environmental auditing.
1. Ensure Compliance
One major benefit of outsourcing your internal audit obligations is that it will help your business to remain compliant with relevant standards. Experts will analyse your business processes in-depth and how they are affected by the relevant standards. A robust analysis of your organisational practices and workflows will help you identify errors, gaps and areas of improvement. Experienced auditors will look to confirm the compliance and identify areas of inefficiencies (not only from the quality point of view but also from the sustainability, circularity, environmental, social and governance point of view). Closing the environmental gaps shall result in your business becoming more eco-friendly.
2. Expertise and Knowledge
One of the major reasons SMEs and other organisations turn to outsourced internal auditing is that it brings readily available expertise and knowledge that you won’t find in-house. These outsourced internal auditors are some of the best and specialise in their fields. They’ll bring greater knowledge to the table and will help you make effective decisions that’ll benefit your business in the short and long run.
Their greater knowledge enables them to develop effective solutions to problems that your in-house auditors might not be able to identify. Outsourcing your internal audit processes is the way to go if you want to improve organisational productivity, efficiency and minimise risks.
3. Unbiasedness
Unbiasedness is key to an effective internal audit. Your in-house internal auditors might be inclined to create a favourable report that is biased towards certain criteria. An outsourced internal auditor provides an unbiased assessment of your organisation’s performance. Such reports help create new ideas and ways to improve business processes. It helps create robust measures to implement the relevant ISO standards within the organisation and ensures that the business remains compliant.
4. Cost-Effective
Another major benefit of outsourcing your internal auditing obligations is cost-effectiveness. Hiring in-house resources for your internal audit function can be quite expensive. You’ll have to pay them a fixed salary, bear the costs of onboarding, training, as well as other non-monetary benefits. Outsourcing helps to minimise these costs as outsourced consultants wouldn’t need any training or non-monetary benefits. You just pay them their contracting fee, and they’ll perform the function for you.
If you’re looking for a boutique consulting firm that specialises in internal quality and environmental audits according to ISO 9001, AS 9100, ISO 14001, EASA Part 21G, then check out the services provided by EQM Consult. We provide comprehensive internal audit services that’ll help you remain compliant. We also help businesses create strong environmental management systems and quality management systems.
We have affordable pricing, and you can select us for project or task-based services. We help you fulfil outsourced auditing obligations through the internal and suppliers’ audits of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, AS 9100 and more. You can check our website for more information about the services, or contact us for a consultation.
Ph.D. Beata Paliwoda
Founder and Owner of EQM. Environmental and quality consultant and auditor. Professional career built in Quality Assurance departments in various companies from the automotive, aerospace, railway industries, as well as a management systems consultant. Successfully completed many complex projects related to the implementation of management systems, process improvements and business transformation. Auditor of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, AS 9100, project manager of APM, lecturer at the Poznan University of Business and Economics, researcher on the effectiveness of EMS and QMS in organisations.
