subject: Ims Management System Audit And The Management Review [print this page] The term IMS (EQHSMS) audit has been used for several different types of IMS (EQHSMS) investigations. Confusions has arisen between the terms have been used to describe the same or overlapping activities. The term IMS (EQHSMS) audit has also been used to describe three different activities.
* The compliance / performance audit used to determine the enterprises compliance with laws and standards,
* The audit of an IMS (EQHSMS) report,
* And the IMS (EQHSMS) management system audit used to review the implementation of an IMS (EQHSMS).
The development of international IMS (EQHSMS) management standards has now provided some clarification and basis for differentiating between terms.
The Initial IMS (EQHSMS) Review establishes the baseline data on the IMS (EQHSMS) status and effects of the enterprise. It usually is an activity carried out once prior to the development of an IMS (EQHSMS) quality, environmental and ohsas management system. Whereas the IMS (EQHSMS) Management System Audit, on the other hand, is used to assess how well the IMS (EQHSMS) is functioning.
IMS (EQHSMS) Audit:
A systematic, documented verification process of objectively obtaining and evaluating audit evidence events, condition or information about these matters, conform to audit criteria, and communicating ate results of this process to the client.
IMS (EQHSMS)Audit:
A systematic, documented verification process of objectively obtaining and evaluating audit evidence to determine whether an organizations IMS (EQHSMS) conforms with the IMS (EQHSMS) audit criteria, and communicating the results of this process to the client.
IMS (EQHSMS) audit as per ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards criteria are defined as the policies practices procedures or requirements. Such as covered by ISO 14001 and, if applicable, any additional IMS (EQHSMS) requirements, against which the auditor compares, collected audit evidence about the organizations IMS (EQHSMS)).
In other words, within the overall IMS (EQHSMS) quality, environmental and ohsas management system, IMS (EQHSMS) audits are used to determine whether IMS (EQHSMS) management activities conform to the stated programme, whether these activities are effectively implemented, and how effective the IMS (EQHSMS) management system is in fulfilling the IMS (EQHSMS) policy.
For convenience, the IMS (EQHSMS) Management System Audits will be referred to here as IMS (EQHSMS) audits. IMS (EQHSMS) audits are referred to in Principle 16 Compliance and Reporting of the ICC Business Charter for Sustainable Development.
The IMS (EQHSMS) audit should focus on the IMS (EQHSMS) objectives and action plans of the organisations to allow problem are as to be identified so that remedial action can be taken. The audit is a means of assisting managers at all levels to improve the performance of the operations under their control. It is not a check on how well people are doing their job!
Criteria and Issues of an IMS (EQHSMS):
In executing and IMS (EQHSMS) audit, one should always keep in mind that the basic questions that should be answered are:
* Is the IMS (EQHSMS) complete?
Does it contain all the necessary elements? Answering this question is clearer if the organisation use an IMS (EQHSMS) standard as a reference. Then the elements, which should be there, are described very clearly.
* IMS (EQHSMS)auditing and management review processes
* Emergency procedures and plans
The IMS (EQHSMS) system has to be implemented with planned approach and target date has to be fixed for smooth installation of ISO: 14001. The general steps listed below has to be planned with target dates for IMS (EQHSMS) installation
