CASE STUDIES

Internal audits

Bristol Waste Company is the city’s recycling, waste and street cleansing company. The company was awarded a ten-year contract in August 2016 and has a strong focus on working with communities across Bristol to help them recycle more, reuse more and throw away less.

Project Description:

I have worked with BWC on behalf of ConsultQA to carry out three management system implementation projects:

  • ISO 9001:2015 quality management system implementation at Albert Road
  • ISO 9001:2015 extension to scope implementation across all other BWC sites
  • ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system implementation across all BWC sites and integrated with the existing quality management system

Once these projects were completed, there was an ongoing need for internal auditing to identify opportunities to improve as well meet the requirements of the ISO standards. I carried out quarterly integrated internal audits for a year until the new SHEQ team had the competencies to take the audit function back in house in 2019.

The quarterly audit programme consisted of two consecutive days at BWC with visits to the relevant sites, discussions with the operatives carrying out the work and follow up of records. We also carried out a management review meeting with the Directors and other members of the senior management team.

The quarterly time frame works well for most companies, as it refocuses attention on the management system and potential improvements regularly throughout the year, as well as encouraging a cycle of small regular improvements rather than a panic-stricken rush just before the certification body audit!

project type
Associate project for ConsultQA
discipline
Environmental and quality integrated internal auditing
Timeframe
2 days a quarter, Summer 2018 to Spring 2019
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