Independent audits that find it before your certification body does

ZLG plans and executes your internal audit program with true independence per ISO 19011 — process audits, system audits, remote, on-site, and multi-site — and follows findings through to verified closure.

An internal audit program your certification body respects: independent auditors, defensible evidence-based findings, and corrective actions that close and stay closed.

Challenges this service solves

  • Auditing your own processes compromises impartiality
  • The audit schedule exists on paper but keeps slipping
  • Internal audits never find what external auditors find
  • Findings are vague, disputed, and slow to close
  • Multi-site audits need consistency you cannot staff
  • A surveillance or certification audit is coming and coverage is incomplete

What the service includes

Audit program development

Risk-based annual audit programs with scope, criteria, frequency, and auditor assignments.

Process & system audits

Full-system audits and focused process audits against your standard and procedures.

Remote, on-site & multi-site

Flexible execution including harmonized multi-site audit campaigns.

Planning & preparation

Audit plans, checklists built from your procedures and risks, and scheduling with process owners.

Interviews & evidence review

Structured interviews and objective evidence collection with full traceability.

Nonconformity writing

Clear three-part findings — requirement, evidence, statement — that drive action, not arguments.

Reporting

Audit reports leadership can act on, with graded findings and improvement opportunities.

Corrective action follow-up

Root cause review, closure verification, and effectiveness checks.

Confidentiality

Findings and records protected under our engagement agreement.

Audit readiness self-assessment

Six questions, thirty seconds. Answer honestly — this stays in your browser and is not submitted anywhere.

  1. Is your internal audit schedule current and being executed on time?
  2. Are your auditors independent of the processes they audit?
  3. Do audit findings include specific objective evidence (documents, records, identifiers)?
  4. Are corrective actions from the last audit closed and verified effective?
  5. Did your last internal audit find anything your certification body later found?
  6. Does leadership review internal audit results outside of management review?

Deliverables

  • Annual audit program and schedule
  • Audit plans and tailored checklists
  • Audit reports with evidence-referenced findings
  • Nonconformity reports and improvement opportunities
  • Corrective action verification records
  • Year-over-year audit performance trends

Standards supported

  • ISO 9001
  • ISO 13485
  • AS9100
  • IATF 16949
  • ISO 19011

Typical timeline

Single process audits run 1–2 days. Full system audits typically 2–5 days depending on scope and site count. Annual programs are scheduled quarterly or monthly to spread load and keep coverage continuous.

Who does what

Your team

  • Provide procedures, records, and floor access
  • Make process owners available for interviews
  • Own corrective actions for findings
  • Review results and act on systemic issues

ZLG

  • Plan and execute audits independently
  • Document objective evidence for every finding
  • Deliver reports and brief leadership
  • Verify corrective action closure and effectiveness

Frequently asked

How do you maintain independence when auditing our QMS?

ZLG auditors have no responsibility for the processes they audit, which satisfies the impartiality expectations of ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100, and IATF 16949. Findings are based strictly on objective evidence, and confidentiality is protected under our engagement agreement.

Can you run our entire internal audit program?

Yes. We can develop your audit program, plan and execute process and system audits (remote, on-site, or multi-site), write nonconformities, deliver reports, and follow up on corrective actions — or supplement your existing audit team for specific audits.

Browse the full FAQ

Often combined with

Ready to talk specifics?

A 30-minute conversation is usually enough to map your fastest path to a measurable result.