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Start With a $19 Quick CheckWhat Should We Prepare Before Stage 1?
Stage 1 (see our Stage 1 vs Stage 2 guide) is mainly a documentation and readiness review. Have your scope statement, quality policy, quality objectives, and key procedures ready and genuinely reflective of how you operate.
What Should We Prepare Before Stage 2?
Stage 2 assesses your QMS in actual operation. You need evidence the system has been running — completed internal audit, management review, and records showing your processes are genuinely being followed, not just documented.
What Evidence Is Normally Reviewed?
- Internal audit records and findings
- Management review minutes, decisions, and actions
- Training and competence records
- Process records (production, service delivery, or equivalent for your operations)
- Corrective action records and evidence of effectiveness
- Customer feedback and complaint handling records
How Should Internal Audit and Management Review Be Prepared?
Both need to have genuinely happened, with real findings and real decisions — not a retrofit exercise the week before the audit. See our internal audit guide and management review guide for what "genuine" looks like.
How Should Open Corrective Actions Be Handled?
Address them honestly before the audit rather than hoping they go unnoticed — see our corrective action guide. An auditor finding an open, tracked corrective action in progress is a far better sign than one that was quietly dropped.
Audit Readiness Checklist
- Scope confirmed and accurate
- QMS implemented and in active use
- Key records available and organized
- Internal audit completed
- Management review completed
- Major issues addressed or in progress with evidence
- Personnel understand the processes relevant to their role
- Documentation controlled (current versions, no obsolete copies in circulation)
We don't promise a guaranteed pass — no consultant reasonably can, since the certification decision belongs to your certification body.
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Start a $19 Quick CheckFrequently Asked Questions
How long before an audit should we start preparing?
A: Enough time to run your QMS long enough to generate genuine evidence — see our timeline guide for what affects this.
Can audit preparation support be remote?
A: Much of the preparation work — document review, mock interviews, evidence review — works well remotely. See our remote consulting guide.
Can you guarantee we'll pass?
A: No, and be cautious of anyone who claims they can. The certification decision belongs solely to your certification body.
Sources & References
Stage 1/Stage 2 audit concepts reflect common accredited-certification practice under IAF's accreditation framework. Confirm exact requirements with your certification body.