Which of the following two documents does an auditor need to prepare and complete prior to the on-site audit?

Which of the following two documents does an auditor need to prepare and complete prior to the on-site audit?

A. Audit Report

B. Audit Plan

C. Procedures

D. Checklist / Prompts

E. Risk Matrices

F. Findings

Answer: BD

Explanation:

According to ISO 19011:2018, clause 6.3, the audit plan is a document that provides the basis for agreement regarding the conduct of the audit. The audit plan should include the information listed in my previous response, such as the audit objectives, scope, criteria, schedule, team, methods, report, etc. The audit plan should be prepared and completed prior to the on-site audit, and should be communicated to the audit team and the auditee1.

According to ISO 19011:2018, clause 6.4.3, the checklist / prompts are documents that list the questions or topics that need to be covered during an audit. The checklist / prompts can help the auditor to collect and verify information relevant to the audit criteria, and to ensure the consistency and completeness of the audit. The checklist / prompts should be prepared and completed prior to the on-site audit, and should be based on the audit plan and the audit scope and objectives1. Therefore, the two documents that an auditor needs to prepare and complete prior to the on-site audit are B and D, as they are essential for planning and conducting the audit. The other options are not correct, as they are either prepared or completed after the on-site audit, or not required by the standard:

• A. Audit Report: The audit report is a document that provides a complete, accurate, concise, and clear record of the audit. The audit report should include the information listed in my previous response, such as the audit objectives, scope, criteria, findings, conclusions, etc. The audit report should be prepared and completed after the on-site audit, and should be distributed to the audit client and the auditee1.

• C. Procedures: Procedures are documents that specify the way activities are to be performed. Procedures may be part of the audit criteria, if they are part of the organization’s management system, or part of the audit programme, if they are part of the certification body’s or registrar’s requirements. Procedures are not prepared or completed by the auditor prior to the on-site audit, but rather reviewed or followed by the auditor during the audit1.

• E. Risk Matrices: Risk matrices are tools that help to assess and prioritize the risks and opportunities associated with the audit programme or the audit. Risk matrices may be part of the audit programme management, if they are used to determine and evaluate the audit programme risks and opportunities, or part of the audit preparation, if they are used to determine and evaluate the audit risks and opportunities. Risk matrices are not prepared or completed by the auditor prior to the on-site audit, but rather used or updated by the auditor during the audit programme management or the audit preparation1.

• F. Findings: Findings are the results of the evaluation of the collected audit evidence against the audit criteria. Findings can indicate either conformity or nonconformity, as well as positive aspects or opportunities for improvement. Findings are not prepared or completed by the auditor prior to the on-site audit, but rather generated and recorded by the auditor during the audit activities1.

Reference: ISO 19011:2018(en), Guidelines for auditing management systems