Scenario · FSC
The FSC audit is three weeks away and there’s still an open non-conformity.
FSC audits are necessary to maintain certification. When there is an outstanding non-conformity, especially one that has gone unresolved for some time, the next audit can become a risk for the company. What seemed like a minor matter can end up affecting clients, orders and the continuity of the certificate.
Audit in three weeks
A company with FSC Chain of Custody certification is facing its annual audit in three weeks. Two minor non-conformities were left over from the previous audit; one was resolved properly, but the other is still open. To complicate matters, the person responsible for the FSC system left the company a few months ago and much of the knowledge went undocumented.
The certificate at risk
The company arrives at the audit without the certainty of being able to prove that the non-conformity has been corrected. If it fails to provide sufficient evidence, it may face new findings, jeopardise the continuity of the certification and create problems with clients who require FSC in their purchases.
First we understand the case and define the scope
How we approach it
- 01 We review the outstanding non-conformity and analyse what evidence is missing in order to close it properly.
- 02 We audit the related procedures and records to identify the root of the problem and prevent it from happening again.
- 03 We rebuild the operational knowledge that has been lost and organise all the documentation needed for the audit.
- 04 We prepare the evidence and support the company so it reaches the audit with the system under control.