ISO 9001 Audit: Internal vs External, How to Prepare, and Why CertCrowd Makes It Easier

By CertCrowd Team

ISO 9001 certification is a powerful signal that your business takes quality seriously. But getting certified and staying compliant requires going through regular audits.

If you're confused about internal audits, external audits, or how to prepare your team, this guide breaks it all down, step by step. Plus, we'll show you how CertCrowd helps automate and simplify the process.

What is an ISO 9001 Audit?

An ISO 9001 audit is a formal review of your organisation's Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure it complies with the ISO 9001:2015 standard.

There are two main types of audits:

🔍 Internal Audit

Conducted by your own team or an external consultant
Checks your QMS against the ISO 9001 standard
Identifies gaps, non-conformities, and opportunities for improvement
Required at least once a year to maintain certification

🏅 External Audit

Conducted by an accredited Certification Body (CB)
Split into Stage 1 (documentation review) and Stage 2 (implementation review)
Determines if you qualify for ISO 9001 certification
Followed by annual surveillance audits and a recertification audit every 3 years

How to Prepare for an ISO 9001 Audit

No matter who is auditing you, preparation is key.

✅ 1. Review Key Documents

Quality Manual
Procedures and Work Instructions
Risk Assessments
Non-conformance and Corrective Action Logs
Internal Audit Reports
Management Review Minutes

✅ 2. Check Records and Evidence

Make sure you can show that your processes are being followed. This includes:

Completed checklists
Customer feedback
Process metrics or KPIs
Training records

✅ 3. Train Your Team

Everyone should understand:

The quality policy and objectives
Their role in the QMS
How to respond during the audit

✅ 4. Use CertCrowd's Built-in Audit Tools

CertCrowd helps you:

Schedule internal audits with reminders
Assign audit tasks to staff
Use built-in audit templates aligned to ISO 9001 clauses
Track non-conformities and improvements in one dashboard

Who Can Be an Internal Auditor?

Your internal auditor must be competent, impartial, and objective. This means they:

Understand the ISO 9001:2015 standard
Have lead auditor training or equivalent knowledge
Are not auditing their own work
Ideally have experience in your industry or sector

You can use trained staff or engage a third-party consultant. Just make sure they're qualified.

Choosing the Right External Auditor (Certification Body)

External audits must be conducted by a conformity assessment body that is:

Accredited by a national accreditation body (like JAS-ANZ in Australia or UKAS in the UK)
Independent, impartial, and experienced
Able to provide auditors with relevant industry experience

Look for a certification body that:

Is listed under IAF (International Accreditation Forum)
Has transparent pricing and timelines
Assigns qualified lead auditors

What Happens During an External ISO 9001 Audit?

Here's a quick overview:

🧾 Stage 1 Audit (Documentation Review)

Checks your QMS documents are in place
May be done remotely
Identifies any major gaps before Stage 2

🏭 Stage 2 Audit (Implementation Review)

Confirms your QMS is implemented and effective
Involves interviews, process walkthroughs, and evidence checks
Ends with a decision on certification (plus any findings to fix)

🔁 Surveillance Audits

Occur at least annually to maintain certification
Focus on key areas, changes, or previous non-conformities

How CertCrowd Makes ISO 9001 Audits Easier

Whether you're running an internal audit or preparing for certification, CertCrowd gives you the tools you need:

✅ Internal Audit Planner – Schedule, assign, and complete audits in one place
✅ Clause-based Audit Templates – Pre-loaded checklists for every ISO 9001 clause
✅ Evidence Repository – Upload proof, attach records, and track findings
✅ Audit Trail – Maintain a clean history for external auditors to review
✅ Collaborative Workspace – Let your consultant or auditor review progress in real time

TL;DR: Audit Smart, Not Hard

ISO 9001 audits don't need to be scary. They're opportunities to improve.

But they do need to be planned, prepared, and properly documented. CertCrowd helps you streamline the process, reduce errors, and get audit-ready faster (even if you're new to ISO).

📅 Start scheduling internal audits today — for free at certcrowd.com