The backbone of an effective Quality Assurance program is the Audit Schedule. It is one of the easiest documents to prepare but can be one of the more difficult ones to adhere to – especially if elements in it are delayed. For audits to take place as per the schedule requires some diligent planning and then execution. Implementation of Corrective Action Plans round out the process.
As per the SACAA doc CA-AOC-AC-002 the purpose of the Operators Quality System is to enable the operator to monitor compliance with the relevant regulations, Operators manual, Operators maintenance Control Manual and ANY other standards specified by that operator, or the Authority to ensure safe operations and airworthy aircraft.
An efficient QA System includes a well structured audit schedule that ensures focus on Audits and Inspections at Level 2 and 3. (Level 1 is invariable conducted by the regulator). As defined in the referenced document a Quality Audit is a Systematic and Independent comparison of the way an operators activity is being conducted against the way the published procedure says it should be conducted. Level 2 and 3 audits ensure that there is adherence to the standard.
The Quality Inspection is linked to Quality Control. Activities aligned to inspections are observation of events, actions and documents relating to established operational procedures. The inspection observes how the work is done or how efficient a process is. Examples of where an inspection would add value would be to review the passenger boarding process, SOP documentation, the refuelling process or pilots proficiency checks.
So when it comes to the audit and inspection processes keep a tight grip on adhering to the set schedule, invest correctly in time and resources, maintain impartiality and always be making continual improvement – no matter how small!.
