Counting down the no-nos during audits: Number 3: The audit as a black tie event
As auditors for the pharmaceutical industry, we have the opportunity to visit the most wonderful places as well as the most interesting companies. We are lucky enough to conduct audits all over the world.
Apart from visiting some exemplary companies, we sometimes encounter things we would rather not see. In these last few weeks of 2018, we are counting down the 10 most surprising experiences of 2018 which we truly hope we will not encounter again: some funny, some awful, some just completely unacceptable. And as we are only human after all, some things that happened were through our own making.
Number 3: The audit as a black tie event
As can be read in the number 7 excerpt, different countries have different cultures and different expectations. The same goes for different clients. As an auditor, we represent the client and do so with the best of our abilities. That means that, should the client have certain expectations, we respect that. During an audit, we will always dress in proper attire. One client defines this as suit and tie.
As said, nobody is perfect, so we also make our fair share of mistakes. This is one of them.
While preparing for the audit, we noted the suit & tie requirement and made sure we would adhere to that. My suits are neatly stored in a closet and protected by garment bags. I glanced through the little peep holes in the bags to check which suit I was taking with me and I chose a dark blue suit. I also picked a shirt and tie, put it in the car and drove to the hotel I booked for the night before the audit. So far, so good.
The next morning I opened the garment bag and discovered that the dark suit I took was actually a tuxedo. Very black and very shiny and not resembling anything else than a tuxedo.
A suit & tie is definitely not a tuxedo, not even close. But what were the alternatives? Blue jeans, my dress shirt and a tie. Well, for better or worse, that was the only option.
So, dressed as such, we drove to the auditee to perform the audit. Luckily, the quality manager did not mind, as he was dressed the way he always was: in jeans and a T-shirt.
Next will be number 2: Power outage on the site
As you can see, after reading this countdown series, we have extensive auditing experience and have encountered almost all possible situations: good and bad.
Would you like to take advantage of that experience and expertise? Contact us here and see how you can benefit.
Did you like this post: You can find the series HERE
Number 10: Living Pest Control
Number 9: Threatening the auditor
Number 8: Audit, was that today?
Number 7: Lunch
Number 6: Do not mind that liquid spill, that is probably harmless
Number 5: Oops, the cleanroom is flooded
Number 4: Doing the audit at all cost