Observations
Certification Bodies have differing views
with regard to the recording of observations.
Many of the Certification Bodies have adopted
the practice of listing observations in addition to NCRs even though they do
not influence the recommendation at the conclusion of the Audit.
However, there is some merit in the recording
of observations. They enable an auditor to spotlight two different types of
situation arising:
· Where an
inconsistency/deficiency exists but cannot be registered as a non-conformance
because it does not contravene the words of the Standard or the documented
procedures although there is obviously something wrong and
· Where a situation
exists that does not justify the raising of a non-conformance report but it is
likely to deteriorate to a condition of non-conformance if no attention is given
to it to pre-empt that happening.
There is also a growing tendency amongst
individual auditors to record an observation rather than a Minor NCR in the
case of a borderline situation. This is
only possible of course with those Bodies using observations as part of their
assessment recording system.
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