Clause 7.3.1 (IAF MD 1) states that “Unless precluded by specific schemes, the reduction of audit time per sampled site shall not be greater than 50%. For example, 30% is the maximum reduction in audit time allowed by IAF MD 5 while 20% is to be considered the maximum reduction allowed for the single management system processes performed by the central function and any potential centralised processes (e.g. purchasing).”
Is this reduction the allowed reduction ratio before IMS reduction? Or does this ratio (max 50%) include IMS reduction?
Can this ratio (max 50% reduction) be applied based on only one justification or reason directly?
E.g.: Assumption: a warehouse has 55 workers, category is medium for QMS, number of effective personnel is 55 and there is not any other reduction factor. The process only consists in unloading the goods in the storage area, handling, storing, preserving and loading to the truck. Goods are ordinary goods and do not need any special care, let’s say they are shoes. According to IAF MD 5, duration is 5 man-days. For single activity, 50% reduction is made. It makes 2.5 man-days. Is this correct?
March 2019
The requirements as stated in the IAF MD1:2018 7.3.1 is, “reduction of audit time per sampled site max 50%”.
Its composition can vary.
An example is indicated in 7.3.1, but there could be many of these.
IAF MD11:2019 is related to the level of integration of two or more sets of audit criteria/standards and its requirements are related for the “planning and delivery of audits of IMS” and therefore, defining if the audit team utilized to perform an audit of IMS, can be potentially be optimized and be more efficiently utilized during the auditing processes of IMS.
Therefore its impact in increase of audit time or decrease of audit time (max 20%), shall be considered after having applied IAF MD1:2018 and IAF MD 5:2015.The elements justifying reduction in each MD are quite separate:
- MD5 for the characteristics of the organisation
- MD1 for the logistics and needs of assessing a single management system across many sites
- MD11 for the practical benefits of assessing an integrated system where the common aspects need not to be repeated for each MS standard.
Any reduction justified because of integration efficiencies, is completely unconnected with the other considerations.
See also Question 37.5.