Throughout my EHS career, I went through annual audits from certification bodies. I was fortunate to begin in an ISO/TS 16949–certified organization where every step of the production process was clearly defined. Earning my ISO 14001 Lead Auditor certification also helped me understand how auditors think and where they tend to focus.
This matters because many companies I later worked with didn't fully grasp ISO requirements or how powerful these systems can be when applied on the shop floor. With the increase in remote audits, the gap has become even more visible-audits often feel like a checkbox exercise, with people showing documents instead of demonstrating how work is actually performed.
In a field audit, the auditor has far more visibility and can truly assess how processes function in real time. When you interview a manufacturing leader, what inspires more confidence: someone who simply presents paperwork, policies, and SWOT charts, or someone who can articulate a compelling story about their vision and strategy?
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ANNE DEMIGNE
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