KEY Relocation's internal audit - an important part of the certification journey towards ISO 9001 and 14001

In this article, we provide an insight into what the internal audit at KEY Relocation looked like over two days, with a detailed timeline and focus on different areas within the organization as part of their certification journey towards ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management).

About KEY Relocation

We at AmpliFlow were trusted to help KEY Relocation (read our customer case with them here) to, with the help of our decades of experience and our smart IT system, establish a management system which is certifiable according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

KEY Relocation is a company with over 28 years of experience in international staff relocations that offers end-to-end solutions for international companies and their employees in areas such as destination services, global mobility, immigration, relocation administration, intercultural communication and business administration. With branches in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Spain, the company has been involved in the migration of more than 40,000 people in and out of the Nordic region.

Internal Audit

As part of KEY Relocation's process towards ISO certification and a support in their drive to continually improve and evolve their processes and systems, the company conducts regular internal audits.

Below we go over how the audit was done with the help of just studying their agenda.

Agenda

Day 1:

• 08:30 - 08:45: Initial meeting with presentation of participants, presentation of KEY Relocation and review of the program.
• 08:45 - 09:15: Review of handling complaints, discrepancies and improvement proposals and communication both externally and internally within KEY Relocation, in accordance with ISO 9001 requirements.
• 09:15 - 10:00: Review of sourcing, supplier follow-up and purchasing processes within the company, focusing on environmental management according to ISO 14001 requirements and monitoring of suppliers.
• 10:00 - 11:00: Review of marketing and sales processes at KEY Relocation, including identification of customer requirements and expectations, as well as transmission and reporting of information to downstream stages according to ISO 9001 requirements.
• 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Review of key Relocation migration delivery processes, including planning, execution, risk assessment, and assignment billing. Exemplification with real delivery/projects.
• 12pm-1pm: Lunch break.
• 13:00 - 15:00: Review of delivery processes for temporary accommodation, home finding, settling-in and departure within KEY Relocation, focusing on environmental management according to ISO 14001 requirements, including planning, execution, risk assessment and invoicing of assignments. Exemplification with real delivery/projects.
• 15:00 - 15:30: Compilation of results and time available to internal auditor.

Day 2:

• 08:30 - 09:30: Review of the organization's competence and development at KEY Relocation, including hiring, introduction, requirements for and verification of staff competencies, and planning and monitoring of skills development in accordance with ISO 9001 and 14001 requirements.
• 09:30 - 10:30: Review of leadership and engagement in KEY Relocation, including external analysis, strategy, business development, long-term and short-term goals, management meetings and communications, and operational risk management as required by ISO 9001 and 14001.
• 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Compilation of results and time available to internal auditor.
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Concluding meeting with review of results and discussion of possible improvement measures within KEY Relocation, as well as adaptation to the requirements of ISO 9001, 14001.
• 12:30 p.m.: Conclusion of the internal audit.

The Unexpected Effects of Internal Audit at KEY Relocation

It's no secret that KEY Relocation's pursuit of ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications has taken the company on an enlightening journey. One of the most unexpected and valuable aspects of this trip has been the internal audit.

“Until the internal audit, we did not realize how much potential there was to optimize in certain areas of the business”, reveals the management of the company. This in-depth review provided KEY Relocation with an opportunity to see its operations from a new perspective, leading to insights that were both unexpected and illuminating.

“The internal audit gave us the opportunity to take a deeper look at our operations and identify areas where we could make significant changes”, they continue, underscoring the value of this thorough review.

And it doesn't end there. Through this process, they discovered opportunities for improvement that had previously fallen between the chairs. “Through the internal audit, we discovered opportunities for improvement that we had previously completely missed”, they concede.

It is clear that the internal audit has had a major impact on the company and its future growth prospects. But perhaps more than anything, it was an eye-opener to what's possible when you take the time to really scrutinize your business.

“The internal audit was an eye-opener - it showed us how much more efficient and successful we could be with some adjustments in our processes”, notes the management at KEY Relocation.

It is clear that internal auditing has played a crucial role in KEY Relocation's certification journey towards ISO 9001 and 14001. It has given them the tools to optimize their business, find unknown opportunities for improvement and create a more successful business.

Are you also curious to understand your business better? Contact us at AmpliFlow today.

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