Open AccessDO QMS AUDITORS NEED FURTHER EDUCATION? VIEWS FROM PANEL OF EXPERTS AND CERTIFICATION BODIES
Author(s) -
Roslina Ab Wahid
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
quantum journal of social sciences and humanities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2716-6481
DOI - 10.55197/qjssh.v2i6.102
Subject(s) - certification , audit , accreditation , delphi method , quality management system , quality audit , quality (philosophy) , external quality assessment , business , accounting , medical education , medicine , quality management , political science , operations management , engineering , marketing , service (business) , mathematics , statistics , philosophy , epistemology , law
This paper investigates and highlights the similarities and differences of perspectives between the panel of experts and certification bodies on the need for a further and wider education of QMS external quality auditors (EQAs). Two studies were conducted for this purpose. For the first study, a Delphi study was conducted involving panel of experts from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and India as respondents. The second study was carried out on accredited certification bodies in Malaysia. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative part of the findings from the studies. Based on the analysis, there are similarities and differences between the two groups on several aspects of the study. Both of the groups agree that there is a need to improve EQAs education, as most experts reported the quality of audit to be variable, inconsistent, poor and diminishing in value while the certification bodies received complaints about the competency of auditors. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge in the field of quality management system and audit where such work is still limited.