Adding Value to your Internal Audit Program
through Independent Auditors
by Capaccio Environmental Engineering, Inc.
Outsourcing the internal
audit program can add value to your Environmental Management System and
represent a cost effective and resource allocation solution to your
organization.
External resources provide a value added independent review of the process
and allows for an allocation of funds that are appropriate with the scope
and scale of the program. Additional resources from outsourcing can be
applied to develop, document, and implement your internal audit program
and then transition to maintaining, completing, following up, and
providing audit closure on a scheduled basis.
In
addition, ISO 14001:2004 is clear that the internal auditor selection
criteria needs to ensure objectivity and the impartiality of the auditor
from the audit area. Thus an internal audit program implemented by an
independent contractor adds value to your EMS by meeting this requirement,
without additional resources from your organization.
The
benefits to a company from an independently contracted internal audit
program function can be a value added service for an organization by:
-
Providing an impartial internal auditor representative
-
Ensuring internal auditor objectivity
-
Allowing for a new vision of the processes, methods, and documentation
-
Increasing the opportunity for continuous improvement
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Providing a reduction in duplication
-
Allowing for the reallocation of in house resources
-
Reducing the opportunity for tunnel vision within the internal audit
program
-
Meeting ISO14001:2004 Internal Auditor Requirements
-
Providing a value added service to your company
For
companies, outsourcing the internal audit function can also offer
potential cost benefits. Contracting the internal audit program can
reduce overlapping positions and audit effort within your corporation, by
creating more flexibility in increasing and decreasing workloads.
Additionally, outsourcing allows a company to reallocate a fixed cost
employee to a more consistent workload and transition the scope of the
internal audit position to a variable fee position that does not include
the expense of benefits for services, providing a cost effective solution
to the organization.
In
summary, the internal audit program represents a key component within your
environmental management system and continuous improvement program.
Outsourcing the internal audit program allows for reallocation of in house
resources to be more consistent work load, adds an independent and
impartial internal auditor(s) to your program, and increases the value to
you Environmental Management System.
For
more information on independent internal audit program, contact Capaccio
Environmental Engineering, Inc. Paula Esty (508)970-0033 x128.
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