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The new version of ISO 19011 standard has been published

· 2 min read
Israel Munguia

On July 3, 2018, the long-awaited update of the ISO 19011 standard was published, marking the transition from its obsolete 2011 version to its updated 2018 version.

WHAT IS ISO 19011 STANDARD?​

The ISO 19011 standard provides valuable Guidelines for auditing management systems, offering a uniform and clear approach for conducting effective audits across multiple management systems simultaneously.

It's important to note that this standard is not certifiable and may be optional for companies conducting first or second-party audits within a management system.

WHY SHOULD WE USE ISO 19011?​

While it's not mandatory to use the guidelines of the ISO 19011 standard for auditing management systems, here are the main reasons to CONSIDER its implementation in your company:

  1. Clearly structures the steps to plan, conduct, and conclude an effective audit.
  2. Defines the objectives to achieve at each stage of an audit.
  3. It is the standard used by your certification body. Therefore, if you are familiar with it, you can clearly anticipate how your certification audit will be conducted.

WHAT WERE THE CHANGES?​

Denise Robitaille, the chair of the ISO project committee responsible for reviewing the standard, explained that the update aims to ensure that the standard continues to provide effective guidance for addressing changes in the market, ever-evolving technologies, and the numerous new or recently revised management system standards.

Key changes in the 2018 version include the incorporation of a risk-based approach into auditing principles, reflecting the growing importance of risk management in standards and the market. Additionally, it provides guidance on auditing risks and opportunities and information on applying risk-based thinking to the auditing process. It also expands guidance in several areas, such as managing an audit program and conducting an audit.

I USE ISO 19011:2011, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?​

First, it's important to highlight that you are not obligated to immediately adopt the new version. However, it is essential to keep your team of auditors up to date so they are familiar with the new version and the most recent techniques for planning and conducting internal audits.

What can you do?