Global Community

For those regularly conducting audits or assessments,

What's one tool, template, checklist, or workflow that genuinely saves you time?

OR 

How do you keep your audit evidence organized in a way that's efficient and repeatable?
Any folder structures, naming conventions, or digital tools you swear by?

It's always helpful to hear what's working in the field.

Drop your insights below!

------------------------------
Jamie Gravatte
Community Manager
Exemplar Global
------------------------------

Good morning,

Typically, I keep electronic folders for each active audit, along with an Audit Log. Within each folder, I have a set of subfolders; RFI's, Responses to RFI's, and Correspondence (depending upon necessity of the audit effort). Additionally, I maintain a Catalog of all materials provided and a noted file path on each document for traceability. 

The folders/templates are readily available to all interested parties and easy to duplicate. This method seems to work for the purposes necessary to our audit efforts. Simple, but effective. 

------------------------------
Colleen Nelson
Other
------------------------------

The software or IT tools used by the organization to manage its QMS processes should include a link to the internal audit file where the relevant documented information of QMS audits  information is saved. the internal auditors should use the IT practice of its organization, but the subcontracted internal auditors should provide the audit documented information in the format required by their clients. 

Thanks!

------------------------------
Marc Kanho
CGSB/ONGC/PWGSC/TPSGC - Hull
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-14-2026 08:30 AM
From: Colleen Nelson
Subject: Internal audit tools that actually make your life easier

Good morning,

Typically, I keep electronic folders for each active audit, along with an Audit Log. Within each folder, I have a set of subfolders; RFI's, Responses to RFI's, and Correspondence (depending upon necessity of the audit effort). Additionally, I maintain a Catalog of all materials provided and a noted file path on each document for traceability. 

The folders/templates are readily available to all interested parties and easy to duplicate. This method seems to work for the purposes necessary to our audit efforts. Simple, but effective. 

------------------------------
Colleen Nelson
Other
------------------------------

For audits such as ISO13485 and MDSAP, I have a checklist of required documents, a checklist of required records and a list of recommended implementation evidence for each clause.  It is a helpful starting tool before diving deeper into the potential findings.

------------------------------
Nanda Filkin
QA Scientist
Arete Biosciences
------------------------------

------------------------------
Francisco J. Tapia Guerrero
ftapia@qualitascertification.com
www.linkedin.com/in/franktapiaguerrero
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-14-2026 09:32 AM
From: Nanda Filkin
Subject: Internal audit tools that actually make your life easier

For audits such as ISO13485 and MDSAP, I have a checklist of required documents, a checklist of required records and a list of recommended implementation evidence for each clause.  It is a helpful starting tool before diving deeper into the potential findings.

------------------------------
Nanda Filkin
QA Scientist
Arete Biosciences
------------------------------

My #1 audit time-saver It's a simple request: 'Please send me the results of your last assessment/Audit'. Before I look at a single checklist, I study the previous observations, findings, and IOs. This creates a strategic roadmap for the day.

Using the PDCA cycle as a framework, I treat the audit as the 'Check' that ensures the 'Act' (the corrective actions) actually happened. Checklists tell you what to look at, but history tells you where to dig.

------------------------------
Frank Higley-Sanchez
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-25-2026 08:29 PM
From: Francisco J. Tapia Guerrero
Subject: Internal audit tools that actually make your life easier

That's a solid approach. Having those checklists in place really helps structure the audit, verify readiness, and focus attention before getting into deeper analysis and potential findings.

------------------------------
Francisco J. Tapia Guerrero
ftapia@qualitascertification.com
www.linkedin.com/in/franktapiaguerrero
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 01-14-2026 09:32 AM
From: Nanda Filkin
Subject: Internal audit tools that actually make your life easier

For audits such as ISO13485 and MDSAP, I have a checklist of required documents, a checklist of required records and a list of recommended implementation evidence for each clause.  It is a helpful starting tool before diving deeper into the potential findings.

------------------------------
Nanda Filkin
QA Scientist
Arete Biosciences

My company created Auditelligence to solve all of the typical audit issues such as organization and evidence capturing. It is web based so individuals can actually audit with their phones and capture images as objective evidence enhancing the reports and root cause investigations. It has built in clause matrices, training, and even an AI assistant that can help with write-ups, audit questions, and sending summary emails that help drive actions.
The part I'm the proudest of is that it was built with small to medium manufacturers in mind, so it is cost effective, yet powerful enough for corporations. 

Check it out at www.auditelligence.com

------------------------------
Josh Casson
------------------------------