Audits and findings

An audit records its number, scope, planned date, completion date, status and auditor. The status moves through Planned, in progress, Reporting and Closed. The auditor can use the scope to identify a supplier or internal textile quality review, then record each finding against its source requirement. Findings carry severity, due date, closure date and a named owner.

The audit workflow closes the audit only once every finding is closed. That rule keeps the audit’s completion decision tied to its detail. A Reporting audit with an open finding stays visible for follow-up. The owner can resolve the finding while the auditor checks whether the evidence addresses the named requirement.

• Plan. Auditor sets scope and planned date before fieldwork starts.
• Record. Each finding names the requirement, observation, severity, owner and due date.
• Close. Auditor confirms all findings are closed before closing the parent audit.

Agree the source of requirements used for supplier and internal audits. The requirement text on a finding should be recognizable to the owner and auditor, even when a separate document controls the detailed wording. Decide what counts as an Observation, Minor or Major finding and what proof is needed to set a closure date.

Assign auditors and finding owners before the first audit cycle. Make clear who checks closure evidence, especially when a finding owner also works in the audited area. The planned date should reflect the intended fieldwork, while the completion date records actual completion. Quality Manager can use the open audit and finding lists to keep overdue follow-up visible.

An Auditor plans a supplier textile quality audit, writes the scope and assigns the planned date. During fieldwork, they record a Major finding against the exact requirement, describe what was observed, set a due date and assign an owner. The audit advances to Reporting while the finding remains open.

The owner addresses the finding and the auditor checks the response against the requirement. The finding receives a closure date when resolved. If another finding remains open, the audit stays in Reporting. Only after every finding is closed does the auditor close the audit and record the completion date. The audit number provides a stable reference for later review.

• Open audits — Planned, active and reporting work with the assigned auditor.
• Open findings — Requirement-linked items still awaiting closure.

See audit to closure and correction to effectiveness.