Question 1

What is Internal audit?

Accepted Answer

A systematic and independent process for evaluating the extent to which the QMS's procedures are followed in practice and whether the QMS is achieving its intended outcomes. Internal audits must be planned, conducted by personnel independent of the activities being audited, documented, and their findings acted upon through corrective action. Under prEN 18286 (definition 3.1.1), an audit can be internal (first party) or external (second party or third party). A provider's internal audit programme is the self-verification mechanism that demonstrates the QMS is "in place" in the operational sense Article 17 requires.

Question 2

Does Internal audit mean the same thing in every context?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly. GAGE defines Internal audit in 2 programs and the curriculum carries 2 distinct definitions, because the term matters differently to each discipline. In EU AI Act Implementation Expert: A systematic and independent process for evaluating the extent to which the QMS's procedures are followed in practice and whether the QMS is achieving its intended outcomes. Internal audits must be planned, conducted by personnel independent of the activities being audited, documented, and their findings acted upon through corrective action. Under prEN 18286 (definition 3.1.1), an audit can be internal (first party) or external (second party or third party). A provider's internal audit programme is the self-verification mechanism that demonstrates the QMS is "in place" in the operational sense Article 17 requires. In AI Governance: Applied Mastery: The organization's own check, required under Clause 9, that its management system is operating as intended, run before the external certification audit. Skipping it is a common reason a well-documented system fails Stage 2.

Internal audit

How each discipline defines it

Where it is taught

Terms it appears with