Are Audit Checklists Evil?

Posted by  Dennis Arter
Thursday, September 08, 2011

There have been several Linked-In postings lately about the use of checklists during a management system audit. Most have focused on quality management systems, but the principles are universal. Some are stating that the registrars (aerospace, automotive, etc.) do not even allow the use of checklists. While I find this hard to believe, I think I understand why those statements are being made.

I think that many folks think of the standard 57-page list of international standard requirements when they hear the word "checklist." I was guilty of publishing one of these as an appendix in the back of the second edition of my book on auditing. It wasn't 57 pages long but it was written to address all the clauses of the ISO 9001:1987 standard. Big mistake and it was removed in the third (and current) edition.

These extensive lists of requirements for a particular international standard can be harmful for several reasons. They shut down the mind. They allow an auditor to proceed without exploring the processes and methods. They result in boring reports. They are indeed evil!

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