A virtual training on internal quality auditing and reporting was conducted by the Policy Coordination and Monitoring Division (PCMD) on March 4-5, 2021.
PCMD is a division of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
A total of 30 regular PCAARRD staff, who are members of the Council’s pool of internal quality auditors (PIQA) and selected staff members recommended by their respective division directors to become part of the pool, attended the training.
The two-day online training aimed for the participants to:
1. Appreciate how and why Internal Quality Audits (IQAs) are conducted;
2. Understand IQA concepts and types of audit findings; and
3. To properly write audit findings for better audit results.
Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services (ARMSS), welcomed the participants to the online training and emphasized the importance of Internal Quality Auditors in successfully implementing an organized quality management system (QMS). He assured the participants that after the training, they will be able to support PCAARRD in improving its management system with confidence. ¬
Mr. Leandro Lorenzo G. Bautista, PCAARRD’s Consultant on ISO matters, served as the resource person. He discussed ISO requirements for the conduct of IQAs, IQA concepts and types of audit findings, planning and execution of audits, and identification of risks related to IQAs. Moreover, on the second day, he highlighted best practices in writing audit findings and monitoring history nonconformities.
Apart from the opening/closing meeting and writing exercises, participants underwent role-playing wherein they served as auditors and auditees of sample QMS processes that include preventive maintenance, management review, procurement, and records management.
Mr. Bautista emphasized that an audit is a fact-finding rather than a fault-finding activity. He further said that audit conclusions are “outcomes of an audit provided by the audit team after consideration of the audit objectives and all audit findings,” which should also serve as basis of recommendations for systems improvement or future audits.
The training is a relevant activity in preparation for the Council’s ISO 9001:2015 re-certification audit in August 2021.
Dr. Lilian G. Bondoc, PCMD Director and QMR, closed the program and expressed her thanks to Mr. Bautista and the training participants.