My Reading on ASQ CQA HB Part I-IA~IE-s

Part IE1
Avoiding Internal Conflict- Of-interest Problems
Selecting an auditor from within an organization (for a first- party audit) can cause problems, especially in the
case of a one- site operation. The objectivity of an auditor working in an area of previous employment may be
questioned. Former peers may be intimidated or uncooperative, or they may use the auditor as a sounding
board for complaints, making it difficult for the auditor to obtain objective information. They also may think that
the auditor will not report procedural violations. Furthermore, the auditor’s knowledge of how a product, process,
or system functions may be outdated, and time may be wasted as the auditor follows the wrong path using
incorrect criteria. Ideally, an auditor will not be assigned to audit an area of previous employment. For internal
audits, though, such assignments cannot always be avoided, especially for small organizations. The negative
effects must be weighed against the benefits that selecting an auditor from within the organization may offer.
Such benefits may include a superior understanding of the organization’s product or service and the processes
involved in production, along with a strong familiarity with the applicable quality requirements or standards.
Negative effects may include hidden agendas, perceived bias on the part of the auditee, and the possibility that
the auditor will try to solve problems using past knowledge rather than auditing the current system.
Charlie Chong/ Fion Zhang