Hey, happy to jump in here! From your topic, it looks like you’re interested in what an internal auditor actually does within an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS).
In simple terms, the internal auditor makes sure the QMS is not just a “check the box” exercise but actually works effectively. They dig through processes, records, and sometimes even the “unwritten rules” a company operates by, trying to find any gaps between what the company does and what the ISO 9001 standard and its own procedures say it should do. The idea isn’t to catch someone out—trust me, I’ve seen firsthand that a good internal audit feels more like a valuable conversation than an interrogation.
A lot of the time, it starts with planning the audit—choosing which area or process to look at, creating checklists, and making sure everyone knows what’s coming. During the audit, the internal auditor will interview staff, review documents, check records, and observe processes. I always found that being approachable and clear with people was key; nobody likes being “audited” unless they know you’re there to help improve things, not lay blame.
Afterwards, an auditor writes up findings—good and bad—and shares them with management. Sometimes, this uncovers a process that everyone grumbled about but nobody flagged officially or a documentation gap that could cause real issues during customer audits. Auditors also follow up on past action items to make sure corrective actions are actually closed out, not just talked about.
What’s most valuable, in my experience, is when auditors help the company not just comply with ISO but actually run better. I’ve seen companies where a good audit uncovering inconsistent calibration records led to fewer product returns and a clearer process for everyone involved.
If you want to go deeper, or even prep for a role in this area, there are plenty of good resources on places like itptemplates.com for audit checklists and templates that can help you get comfortable with expectations. At the end of the day, the internal auditor’s job is to help their company do things right, every time, and spot where change or improvement can help everyone—not just tick a box. Let me know if you have a more specific question on this!
