This blog raises discussion points concerning Compliance and Performance Auditing in Aviation – understanding the difference between Aviation Compliance Audits and Aviation Performance Audits.
As we know certain areas of the business, (In aviation these are many) can be described as high risk.
For these area, among the many mitigation’s employed are audits which can play a significant role, to establish ongoing conformity with company processes and procedures.
What is Conformance ? Conformance is associated with a standard or drawing for example in connection with form fit or function for example. Within an environment of Compliance we have many instances of Conformance.
Compliance takes Conformance to a higher level, consider the following statement – the requirements were met during the production or delivery of the product or service.
So we understand that Compliance audits are designed to give assurance that activities have been performed properly. It should be understood of course that Compliance Audits are off course reactive.
Compliance audits also tend to be subjective in respect that they pass or fail, to put this in another way, the fact is that It is an unknown if the compliance will be satisfactory next week or next month.
When considering Compliance Audits , in Abstract, The major shortfall of the compliance audit is that it does not test the process or procedures developed to deliver the requirement. (As a result some assumption is made on behalf of the auditor.)
In accordance with the requirements of EASA and other regulatory bodies The management is obligated to perform an annual review but often the detail which is required to be subjective is not always available.
So to consider a Performance Audit – Performance do not focus on compliance with the regulations, A performance audit looks more at the organisations effectiveness for efficiency and business results.
A performance audit recognizes that all is not perfect, For example whist we do the best we can with the resources available, there may be unacceptable shortfalls.
In a performance audit the rules are challenged, whilst the underlying principles driving those rules are accepted and not challenged – This type of auditing goes beyond compliance.
Performance auditing requires a deep understanding of the controls that are desired. it then examines the many methods being used to achieve those controls.
Performance audits examine the effectiveness of the organisations systems Are procedures user friendly (effective)? Do established systems have the necessary scope to deliver.
(Auditor Competency plays a significant role in delivering effective performance audits)
Tags:
Auditing in Aviation, Compliance Audit, Conformance, Performance Audit
