Requirements of MD 5
- 1.9. Effective Number of Personnel The effective number of personnel consists of all personnel (permanent, temporary, and part-time) involved within the scope of certification including those working on each shift.
- 2.3.5. Shift work employees. The CAB shall determine the duration and timing of the audit which will best assess the effective implementation of the management system for the full scope of the client activities, including the need to audit outside normal working hours and various shift patterns. This shall be agreed with the client. The CAB should ensure that any variation in audit time does not compromise the effectiveness of audits (see also clause 3.7).
- 3.5. For QMS audits, Figure QMS 1 provides a visual guide to making adjustments from the audit time calculated from Table QMS1 and provides the framework for a process that should be used for audit planning by identifying a starting point based on the total effective number of personnel for all shifts.
In 1.9 and 3.5 it is stated that the starting point to calculate the audit duration is the total effective number of personnel for all shifts.
Instead, in 2.3.5 it is stated that the work on shift is one of the elements to take into consideration to determine the effective number of personnel.
Question: Shift work is one of the elements to be taken into consideration in order to reduce the effective number of personnel, and therefore consequently the audit duration?
September 2020
Shift work is a factor to be taken into consideration when planning an audit, however it should be noted that, depending on the situation, shift work may increase or decrease audit time. While it is possible that personnel in different shifts are carrying out the same tasks it is also possible that there are differences in working practices between shifts. Auditors may also need to consider the interaction between shifts, and this may also result in more time being needed.
In summary, it is correct that Shift Work is a factor for consideration, it does not necessarily result in less audit time being needed.
This topic will also be considered by the IAF TFG Audit Time as part of their work.