Another auditor appointed by the certification body reviews the audit team leader’s working documents before the audit conclusions are finalized. According to good auditing practice, which statement is correct?
A.
Such a review is acceptable if the reviewing auditor is appointed by the certification body and qualified to perform it
B.
The audit team leader's work may only be reviewed after the audit conclusions have been finalized
C.
The audit team leader alone is responsible for reviewing their own working documents without any external review
The correct answer is A, because peer review or independent review of audit working documents is an accepted and recommended auditing practice when performed by a qualified and authorized individual. ISO/IEC 17021-1 requires certification bodies to maintain quality assurance mechanisms, including review of audit documentation, to ensure audit consistency, impartiality, and technical validity.
Reviewing working documents before audit conclusions are finalized helps identify gaps, inconsistencies, or errors while corrective action is still possible. This strengthens the reliability of the audit outcome and supports sound certification decisions.
Option B is incorrect because limiting review to after conclusions are finalized reduces the effectiveness of quality control and may require rework. Option C is incorrect because auditors should not review their own work exclusively; independent review is a key safeguard against bias and oversight.
Therefore, a qualified auditor appointed by the certification body reviewing working documents prior to final conclusions is fully aligned with good auditing practice and accreditation requirements.
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