External audits can be challenging. Whether it’s ISO or NEN standards, they are often seen as a stressful milestone. Yet in practice, we continue to see the same common pitfalls arise. If you know what auditors are looking for, you’ll already be one step ahead.
1. Inadequate documentation or outdated procedures
Policies, procedures, and work instructions should be kept up to date. Many organizations have documentation that no longer reflects actual practice. If employees work differently in reality than what is described on paper, it can quickly lead to an audit finding.
2. Lack of internal audits or management reviews
Organizations are expected to continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their own management system. This means conducting internal audits on a regular basis and holding management reviews. Skipping or overlooking these activities is one of the most common audit findings.
3. Insufficient evidence of risk management
ISO 27001 is all about risk management. Many organizations have a risk register in place, but are unable to demonstrate how risks have been assessed or addressed. The same applies to other standards: make sure that decisions regarding risks are traceable and supported by evidence.
4. Lack of employee involvement
Auditors like to speak with employees on the work floor during an audit. If employees are not familiar with the policies or their role within them, this can result in a finding, even if the documentation is perfectly in order.
5. Corrections versus structural improvements
We often see organizations quickly “fix” a finding without looking into the actual root cause. While this may solve the issue in the short term, the same mistake often reappears during the next audit in the long term.
Transparency & Impartiality: As a certification body, we conduct audits with complete independence. This overview is based on general market observations and is provided for informational purposes only.
Although every organization is different, external audits regularly reveal similar areas of attention. Understanding these common findings helps organizations gain better insight into the aspects auditors assess during a certification audit.
