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January 2024 #16294 Page #33
How Should We Select a 3rd Party Quality Assurance Program?
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s a new year begins, now is the time to ask: do I need a 3rd party By Glenn Traylor auditor? If you don’t have one, then you need to take a hard look at your business. As companies in other industries have learned too, using a third party to conduct all audits throughout an organization (or supplementing a third party for some of the audits) brings a fresh set of eyes and a different approach to the research, review, and analysis of shop results, which can lead to reduced loss and overall earnings improvement. And while you may think that it’s a decision that can be made “later,” the future is hard to predict and your in-house program needs to be effective now. The key to having a successful business is managing your risk. Once you’ve recognized your need for a 3rd party auditor, then the next step is choosing a company that will meet all of your needs. Selecting the wrong organization can be a disastrous error that could impact your defense in a litigation. Although I wrote about this topic several years ago (Quality Assurance, Safety, and the Benefits of a Non-Biased Audit), it’s worth repeating myself a bit to review the key items to consider in selecting the right auditor.
Key Principles Selecting a 3rd party Quality Assurance program might seem like an easy decision once you determine you need one, but there are 9 principles that need to be addressed. 1. Validation: Your auditor will verify compliance with ANSI/TPI 1 and OSHA regulations and guidelines. 2. Perspective: Your auditor will act as another set of eyes on your operation from a person with a broad perspective. Moreover, they have the advantage of bringing even more experience to the table because they are conducting compliance audits in multiple environments and styles. 3. Risk Control: Your auditor can help identify potential issues or problems that could escalate and lead to losses for your business. 4. Objectivity: An auditor’s basis is a standard of quality. It is a series of best practices that are shared among the auditor’s group of clientele. This sharing strengthens each individual’s quality program. 5. Knowledge Base: An auditor’s knowledge of the codes and requirements are to a level of detail that is not reasonably obtainable for a component manufacturing manager. 6. Uniqueness: Audits are inherently unique to each plant and personnel. They are specific to the plant’s safety and quality program. Continued next page
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