ISO 19011 - Section 3
Explanations in Plain English
ISO 19011 - Section 3A - Managing An Audit
Program
1) General information on managing audit programs
An audit program may include one or more audits, depending upon the size, nature
and complexity of the organization to be audited. These audits may have a variety of objectives and may also
include joint or combined audits.
When a quality management system and an environmental management system are
audited together, this is termed a combined audit.
When two or more auditing organizations cooperate to audit a single auditee, this
is termed a joint audit.
An audit program also includes all activities necessary for planning and
organizing the types and number of audits, and for providing resources to conduct them effectively and efficiently
within the specified time frames.
An organization may establish more than one audit program. The organization’s top
management should grant the authority for managing the audit program. Those assigned the authority for managing the
audit program should:
a) establish, implement, monitor, review and improve the audit program,
and
b) identify the necessary resources and ensure they are provided.
If an organization to be audited operates both quality management and
environmental management systems, combined audits may be included in the audit program. In such a case, special
attention should be paid to the competence of the audit team.
Auditing an environmental management system requires specific knowledge of
environmental aspects and impacts. Although a quality system auditor may have the required auditor skills, they
should receive specific training and evaluation for environmental issues. The same can be said for environmental
auditors moving into the quality auditing realm.
Two or more auditing organizations may cooperate, as part of their audit programs,
to conduct a joint audit. In such a case, special attention should be paid to the division of responsibilities, the
provision of any additional resources, the competence of the audit team and the appropriate procedures. Agreement
on these should be reached before the audit commences. A best practice is to have a lead auditor controlling the
audit process.
The links below are
excerpts from the our e-book
"Explanations and
Definitions for ISO 19011:2002" 
Section 1. ISO 19011 Scope
reference and definitions
Section 2. ISO 19011 Principles of
auditing
Section 3. ISO 19011 Managing an
audit program
Section 4. ISO 19011 Audit program
implementation
Section 5. ISO 19011 Audit
activities
Section 6. ISO 19011 Preparing for
onsite activities
Section 7. ISO 19011 Conducting
onsite activities
Section 8. ISO 19011 What the
auditor is looking for
Section 9 ISO 19011 Audit
reporting
Section 10. ISO 19011 Audit
techniques
Section 11. ISO 19011 Audit
path
Section 12. ISO 19011 Effective
communications
Section 13. ISO 19011
Sampling
Section 14. ISO 19011 Audit
completion and follow-up
Section 15. ISO 19011 Competence
and evaluation of auditors
This represents a summary of the section in ISO 19011:2002. It's
suggested that you obtain a copy of our ebook to refer to when auditing.
EBook "Explanations and Definitions for ISO 19011:2002
What are Quality Management
Systems?
What is ISO 9000?
What is ISO 9001?
What is ISO 9004?
What is ISO 19011?
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