---
title: "Quality audit and approach"
subject: "ICT Project Management"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:quality-audit"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/quality-audit
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Quality audit and approach

ICT Project Management · Chapter 10: Project quality management

- Asked in: year not given
- Video: [Project Quality Management Overview | PMBOK Video Course](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7YJ-_OJIZQ) — David McLachlan
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/quality-audit
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-10

## Question

What do you mean by quality audit? Explain it in detail with an approach to a quality audit.

## Short answer

A quality audit is an independent, structured review to verify compliance with policies and procedures. Approach: plan, notify, opening meeting, examine evidence, report findings (major/minor non-conformance, observations), agree corrective action, and follow-up.

## Answer

A **quality audit** is a structured, independent process to determine whether project activities comply with organisational and project policies, processes and procedures. It is a tool of Perform Quality Assurance. Audits may be scheduled or random, and carried out by internal auditors, an independent QA team or third parties (external auditors for certification).

#### Objectives
- Identify all good and best practices being implemented.
- Identify all non-conformity, gaps and shortcomings.
- Share good practices in the organisation.
- Offer assistance to improve implementation of processes.
- Highlight contributions of each audit in the lessons learned repository.
- Confirm corrective action implementation.

#### Approach to a quality audit
```text
Plan -> Notify -> Opening meeting -> Examine
   -> Findings -> Report -> Corrective action -> Follow-up
```
1. **Plan the audit**: define scope, objectives, criteria (standard or procedure), schedule, team.
2. **Prepare**: review documents, prepare checklist, notify the auditee.
3. **Opening meeting**: explain purpose and schedule.
4. **Conduct the audit**: collect evidence by document review, interviews, observation and sampling of records.
5. **Analyse and record findings**: classify as major or minor non-conformance, observation, or good practice.
6. **Closing meeting**: present findings and obtain agreement.
7. **Audit report**: written report with findings and recommendations.
8. **Corrective action**: the auditee prepares an action plan with owners and dates.
9. **Follow-up**: verify corrective actions and close the audit.

| Finding type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Major non-conformance | Serious failure to follow a process |
| Minor non-conformance | Isolated lapse |
| Observation | Possible improvement |

#### Benefits
Improves compliance, reduces defects, supports certification (ISO 9001), spreads best practice.

**Example:** An auditor checks whether all code in a project underwent peer review as required, finds 3 of 20 modules missed, raises a minor non-conformance and verifies the fix one month later.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is a quality audit?
   A. A test of software functions
   B. A cost estimate
   C. A structured independent process to check compliance with policies and procedures
   D. A stakeholder meeting
   Answer: C. Audits are a tool of Perform Quality Assurance. (Key point: Definition)

2. Which sequence is correct for a quality audit?
   A. Plan, opening meeting, conduct, findings, report, corrective action, follow-up
   B. Report, plan, conduct, follow-up
   C. Conduct, plan, report, opening meeting
   D. Corrective action, plan, findings, conduct
   Answer: A. Audits are planned and opened, evidence is gathered, findings reported, and actions followed up. (Key point: Sequence)

3. Which finding type is an isolated lapse?
   A. Major non-conformance
   B. Minor non-conformance
   C. Observation
   D. Good practice
   Answer: B. Major is a serious failure to follow a process; observation is a possible improvement. (Key point: Finding types)

4. How do auditors collect evidence?
   A. Only by random guessing
   B. Only by running code
   C. Only by reading the audit report
   D. Document review, interviews, observation and sampling of records
   Answer: D. These methods are used during the audit's conduct stage. (Key point: Evidence)

## Related in ICT Project Management

- [Project life cycles in detail](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-life-cycles) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4
- [Quality planning](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aquality-planning) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10
- [Project quality](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-quality) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10
- [Total quality management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Atqm) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10
- [Cost of quality](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Acost-of-quality) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10
- [Quality management plan](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aquality-management-plan) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10

## Related in other subjects

- [IS audit and CAATs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ais-audit-caatt) — Information System, chapter 2
- [Information audit and its benefits](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ainformation-audit-benefits) — Information System, chapter 2
- [Quality control at site; slump test](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Aqc-and-slump-test) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 3
- [LEP approach in infrastructure development](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Alep-infrastructure-development) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 2