Our customers can see that remote audits are fast and flexible — Dates can be agreed quickly, minimising any potential on-site disruption, and audits can be co-witnessed by multiple stakeholders within your business, who can also interact with auditors via a live stream, through secure, easy-to-use, online platforms to protect your information and the integrity of your audit.
HOW TO DELIVER A REMOTE AUDIT
The MD4 guidance published by the International Accreditation Forum, introduced remote audits back in 2008, and while SPI did not offer it then, we did keep abreast of new technology which enabled some solutions a few years ago.
Through a range of safe and secure platforms and applications, we can deliver essential services both online and on-site, in accordance with accreditation and standard or scheme owner requirements.
In addition, we have also trained and upskilled our consultant auditors globally to deliver the same quality of 5 Star Health & Safety Management System™ audit remotely, with the same value and outcomes as you would expect from an on-site visit.
Organizations that embraced the changes are already reaping the benefits. Some of our customers jumped straight into remote auditing and have since said how impressed they are with the amount of benefits it brings.
Suddenly, auditor availability, double booked meeting rooms, and travel schedules are no longer the key drivers or challenges in planning and delivering a successful audit.
Read Also: Safety and Quality Are Vital For Increased Business Output —Cadbury’s Supply Chain Director
BENEFITS OF REMOTE AUDITING
Remote audits effectively removed geographical boundaries, minimised disruption for companies, and allowed more people to be involved, including sector and technical specialists based any-where the world.
Emirate Airlines and Emirate Flight Catering in Dubai can be assured that its systems are continuously monitored and improved during the pandemic, but now sees remote auditing as an efficient way forward longer term.
While some of our customers were understandably concerned about the quality of the service that comes with a remote audit, others wanted to know how it would work. And I think that led them to express interest and give it a try.
RESISTANCE TO REMOTE AUDITING
Several of our customers were flexible and worked with us to reassess how the audit could be conducted offsite. They were reassured that the audit provided them with the same outcomes.
They were the same clients who before the pandemic, would have used remote auditing as a last resort.
In fact, they would often show resistance to the idea of not completing the audit face-to-face for fear of the digital process not being robust enough.
Those companies were encouraged to assess how remote technologies could provide them with the assurance they needed for their business.
CONCLUSION
During a 5 Star audit, our customers quite rightly want to make sure they are doing everything they can to achieve a safe and healthy workplace and achieve a successful outcome, so the idea of experiencing that audit remotely could feel uncomfortable for someone who is used to completing them face-to-face.
But now that they have experienced the benefits of remote auditing, they are all encouraged to continue with it in the future, even once the pandemic has been eliminated.
This article originally appeared in African OS&H Magazine.
