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Audits · Assurance

Internal, Process & Supplier Audits

Independent internal audits, VDA 6.3 process audits and second-party supplier audits that give you an honest, defensible picture of compliance — and close out non-conformities for good.

Wales & the South West — Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Bristol the Midlands — Birmingham, Coventry, the automotive manufacturing belt London & the South East — London, Essex, Kent the North of England — Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield
Why independent audits matter

Audits that find problems before your customer or assessor does

Every ISO standard and IATF 16949 requires a programme of internal audits — but an audit only adds value if it's carried out with genuine independence, technical understanding and the confidence to write up an honest non-conformity. We provide internal audits, VDA 6.3 process audits and second-party supplier audits as a standalone service, or as part of building your own internal audit capability.

Outsourcing some or all of your internal audits is also a recognised way to satisfy the independence requirement in smaller organisations, where the same people who do the work would otherwise have to audit it.

Who it's for

Who this service is for

Certified businesses needing audit capacity

You hold ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 or IATF 16949 and need an independent, technically credible internal audit programme.

  • Annual audit programme design
  • Audit execution against your standard(s)
  • Clear, defensible non-conformity reporting

Automotive supply chain businesses

Your customers require VDA 6.3 process audits, or you need to audit your own sub-tier suppliers.

  • VDA 6.3 process audits
  • Second-party supplier audits
  • Supplier development follow-up
What's included

What's included

Internal audit programmes

A risk-based, multi-year internal audit schedule covering every clause and process, not just the easy ones.

VDA 6.3 process audits

Process audits carried out to the VDA 6.3 methodology, as increasingly required by automotive OEMs.

Supplier & contractor audits

Second-party audits of your suppliers and contractors, with practical development support where gaps are found.

Audit reporting & CAPA follow-up

Clear, evidence-based reports and follow-up on corrective and preventive actions until they're genuinely closed.

Auditor training

Build your own audit capability with internal auditor training for ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.

Integration with IMS

Audit programmes designed to cover multiple standards in a single visit, as part of an Integrated Management System.

Our process

How we run an audit programme

1

Scope & schedule

We agree which standards, sites and processes need covering, and build a risk-based audit schedule.

2

Plan each audit

Each audit is planned against the relevant clauses, CSRs or VDA 6.3 elements, with objective evidence in mind.

3

Conduct & report

We conduct the audit, gather objective evidence and issue a clear report with graded findings.

4

Follow up to closure

We track corrective actions to genuine closure — not just a paperwork sign-off.

Why Control Edge

Why use Control Edge for audits

Common questions

Audit questions, answered

Can an outsourced consultant be our 'internal' auditor?

Yes. ISO standards require internal audits to be objective and impartial, not necessarily performed by an employee. Using an independent consultant is a common and accepted way to achieve genuine independence, especially in smaller organisations.

How often do we need internal audits?

Most management systems run a full-cycle audit programme annually, covering every clause and process at least once, with higher-risk areas audited more frequently. We'll design a schedule proportionate to your size and risk.

What is a VDA 6.3 process audit?

VDA 6.3 is a German automotive industry process audit methodology, increasingly specified by OEMs and Tier 1 customers, that assesses the capability of a specific product or process across the whole lifecycle rather than just the management system.

Can you audit our suppliers on our behalf?

Yes — second-party supplier audits are a core part of this service, including follow-up support to help underperforming suppliers close their gaps.

What does an audit programme cost?

This depends on the number of standards, sites and audits per year. We'll quote a fixed price after understanding your scope on a free scoping call.

Related services

Explore related services

Most of our clients need more than one of these — here's what tends to go together.

Need an independent, credible audit programme?

Tell us which standards and sites need covering and we'll put together a fixed-price audit programme.

Talk to a consultant →