Chapter 13 - Process Standards and Audits

Abstract

This chapter explains process standards and audits that include writing and formatting standards, best practice for a standard, and procedure in a flow diagram. Procedure shall describe the process method required to describe interfaces between departments. Internal department practices shall be left up to each department manager to delineate department instructions as necessary. Flow diagrams shall be the preferred method of describing the procedure. It is suggested to list the person or persons that are authorized to take exception to the standard and this allows management by exception. The content of the standard is the normal condition and the person specified will take exception as appropriate. There must also be a general category to cover such subjects as part numbering and interchangeability, and subjects such as cost estimating changes or field changes might deserve a separate category. The ideal internal audit should be done with the quality assurance or internal audit department. It is suggested that repeated audits are necessary to attain the best-in-class status.