Having recently undergone a two-day audit with a major medical device manufacturer, we understand the stresses associated with the process. However, getting requests for customer audits is actually a major benefit for manufacturers. Here we’ve laid out a few reasons why.
Ensures the Meeting of Standards
An audit, whether it applies to an entire organization or a specific product, process, or system, can be conducted to prove that a company complies with any relevant standards. For example, a customer may suggest or require that a provider undergoes an audit to ensure it meets particular safety guidelines. There also may be requirements by federal agencies for audits, whether it be for documents, risk, or performance.
Techprint has seen an increase in auditing lately due to the FDA crackdown on supplier controls and evaluating suppliers in high-risk sectors. As a printed electronics manufacturer for MedTech and other industries, Techprint has undergone several customer audits. We understand this process helps to create a safer environment for workers, management, and clients. Companies receiving the audit receive valuable information on risks, efficiency, quality, and economy, and it ensures legal compliance.
Leads to Improvements
In some cases, a client may suggest a provider be audited to confirm they meet certain system certifications, such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001. Sometimes customer audits can uncover risks or ways that an organization is not performing optimally. In this case, a follow-up audit may be requested to prove that preventative activities were undertaken as a result of finding performance problems that were identified earlier.
Additional Advantages
Customer audits have an added benefit of showing interest in an organization’s products or services. When smaller manufacturers receive audit requests from larger companies, it shows that you are seen as a trusted resource. It also provides potential opportunities for growth. By complying with requirements, there’s a chance to learn more about world-class quality systems that can be implemented for further improvement. There’s a give-and-take relationship between both sides that allows for growth and greater access to different quality management systems.
Thus, audits not only serve to prove a company’s compliance with standards, but also help identify areas for improvement that may not have been obvious before.
In addition to inviting customer audits, Techprint has achieved a number of industry certifications to further our commitment to quality. Learn about our industry certifications.