Quality audits: their status, prowess and future focus

Abstract

Purpose -To explore the current status, prowess, and future of quality audits, which would help both researchers and practitioners to adopt quality-auditing practice for achieving the objectives of continuous quality improvement (CQI) models like total quality management (TQM). Design/methodology/approach -The literature on quality audits was collected from the Emerald-insight library. The most appropriate papers dealing with quality-auditing practice and its closely related topics were excavated. These papers were classified into six categories and their contributions with inferences drawn have been presented. Findings -Quality audits are not only meant for checking the systems for their compliance with quality system (QS) standards, they can also be used for exercising CQI and reaching the benchmarks of TQM. The conclusive finding is that identification of a legitimate quality audit standard and its financial accounting system shall be the future focus of research in this arena.Research limitations/implications -In comparison to the volume of QS certifications that have taken place throughout the world, the number of papers on quality audits and its closely related topics excavated through literature mining exercises was less. This may aberrate the findings and inferences of literature mining on quality audits. Practical implications -The findings and inferences drawn by conducting the literature mining on quality-auditing will be useful to the practitioners for orienting quality audits toward achieving the goals of models like TQM. This will ensure the cost effectiveness of quality audits and reaping larger benefits out of them. Originality/value -This paper shows a future focus of research which would help the researchers working in TQM arena to work in this direction in consultation with practitioners. This would witness the development of performance measurement metrics and financial accounting systems pertaining to the conduct of quality audits.

Overcoming barriers to sustainable implementation of the ISO 9001 system

“…This is attributed to the fact that there is a misunderstanding for some people in China that the international standard is superior to other quality management methods including TQM. Extensive research reveals that understanding the purpose of the Barriers to effective audits of ISO 9001 standard An effective audit is very important for the sustainable implementation of the ISO 9001 standard (Rajendran and Devadasan, 2005). As Pivka (2004) indicated, ISO 9000 auditing had a long-term economic value only if a compliance audit was integrated with the management system.…”

Quality audit typology and methodology

“…Kokybės vadybos požiūriu yra išskirtini keturi pagrindiniai kokybės audito tipai: produkto auditas, proceso auditas, projekto auditas ir kokybės bei aplinkosaugos, (taip pat darbuotojų sveikatos ir saugos, informacijos saugos) vadybos sistemos auditas (Darestani et al, 2010;Kaziliūnas, 2006;Rajendran, Devadasan, 2005;Ruževičius, 2012b).…”

Do They Think Alike? Perception Analysis on Quality Environment (QE) Audit Effectiveness: A Malaysian Case

“…Rajendran & Devadasan (2005) quote a study by Karapetrovic & Willborn (2000)w hich posits that in order to meet this requirement at a faster rate, quality-auditing exercise is being carried out hurriedly as a part of the QS certification process. Purely compliance audits have become a routine for both auditors and the auditee; therefore, the quality audit scope has been enlarged to areas where the organization or managers master their business (Pivka & Mulej, 2004).…”