UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT
A workplace inspection examines conditions and activities within a defined area or scope. An audit evaluates evidence against defined criteria, often asking whether a management process is designed and operating as intended. Both can reveal important gaps, but their conclusions answer different questions. A tidy workshop does not establish that the maintenance management system is effective across an entire business.
Keep the scope, date, criteria, evidence, and reviewer attached to each result. Inspection findings may reveal a local concern; repeated findings may become evidence for a broader audit. An audit can also show that inspections are missing certain shifts or that actions are closed without verification. Avoid combining completion counts into a single success measure. Review whether the activities produced useful findings and whether accountable people addressed them through the site's approved processes.
Questions to take back to your team
- What conditions or management criteria are being examined?
- Does the sample include relevant areas and shifts?
- Can each finding be traced to evidence and an accountable owner?
Awareness guide only. Follow applicable requirements, qualified review and your site’s approved procedures. Reading this page does not authorize work or certify competence.
Further reading
Explore the primary references below. Requirements and applicability depend on your organization and jurisdiction.
