What is the main purpose of the audit process?

The audit process is fundamentally aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of management systems. This involves assessing how well these systems operate in achieving their intended goals, specifically in relation to health, safety, and environmental standards. By critically examining various components of management systems, the audit process identifies areas of strength, as well as opportunities for improvement, thereby ensuring that organizations are not only compliant with relevant regulations but also operating in a manner that promotes continual improvement.

The audit process does not primarily focus on creating new management systems, which is more of a developmental task than an evaluative one. Similarly, while compliance is a significant factor, the audit's broader aim encompasses overall effectiveness and performance, which extends beyond mere compliance issues. Training programs for auditors are secondary outcomes that may arise from the audit findings, but they do not encapsulate the primary aim of the audit itself. This reinforces the idea that the core function of the audit is to provide comprehensive evaluations and insights into the management systems in place.