Auditing processes in the manufacturing, distribution, and healthcare sectors is not merely a luxury; it’s the cornerstone of any organization striving for excellence in its products and services. Maintaining high-quality, safe, and efficient procedures cannot be overstated since the repercussions of subpar standards can be damaging, leading to lost customers, rework, product recalls, and reputational damage.
What Are Layered Process Audits (LPAs)? Defining LPAs
Layered Process Audits (LPA) are structured audits conducted across multiple organizational layers or levels to ensure process compliance. LPAs involve frontline employees, middle management, and upper management. Auditors follow an audit checklist and verify different workplace areas, processes, or assessment criteria depending on their level of authority.
LPAs are a robust quality, safety, and efficiency technique that shifts the focus from inspecting finished products and services to validating the processes that produce them. At their core, LPAs are a proactive approach to management. The primary objective is consistently following operational procedures, maintaining quality standards, rectifying deviations at the earliest possible stage, and driving continuous improvement.
Audit Layers – Involving Multiple Levels of Auditors
At the heart of Layered Process Audits are multiple layers within an organization. These layers involve individuals from various management tiers, each with a distinct focus and scope of assessment:
Layer 1 – Frontline Employees and Operators:
Frontline employees conduct audits within their workstations or areas. Their audits concentrate on adhering to safety standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs). These employees are well-positioned to identify issues as they are directly engaged in day-to-day operations.
Layer 2 – Team Leaders and Supervisors:
Team leaders or supervisors play a pivotal role in conducting audits. These audits mainly verify that team members follow established procedures and safety protocols.
Layer 3 – Managers and Directors:
Middle managers (production managers or department heads) participate in LPAs to assess overall performance. They review processes, resource allocation, and efficiency, often identifying training needs, resource requirements, or improvement opportunities.
Layer 4 – C-Level Executives:
Senior management (top executives) engage in LPAs to gain a high-level view of the organization’s processes. Their audits focus on strategic aspects, such as alignment with organizational goals and regulatory compliance. Senior management’s involvement underscores its commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
Cross-functional Teams:
LPAs may also involve cross-functional teams collaborating to address non-conformity identified during audits. These teams guarantee a comprehensive strategy for overseeing quality, safety, and efficiency control.
Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement Teams:
Quality assurance and continuous improvement teams are the driving force behind LPA programs. They coordinate the audit schedule, provide training, and promptly take corrective actions. These groups play a crucial role in fostering a culture of accountability.
The overarching principle in conducting LPAs is collaboration among all management levels, relentlessly focusing on transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
LPA Frequencies – Scheduling Layered Process Audits
The frequency of Layered Process Audits varies depending on the level conducting the audit: the closer an auditor is to the audited area, the more frequently they will complete the audit. For instance, a line supervisor may perform daily audits, while a plant manager might conduct monthly audits.
Moreover, LPA schedules are an essential tool when implementing Leader Standard Work. Set the LPA schedule for regular assessments and choose from daily, weekly, monthly, or custom recurrence to ensure auditors stay on top of their deadlines.
How to Conduct Layered Process Audits (LPAs)
Layered Process Audits are structured processes involving several vital steps. Here’s a roadmap for conducting effective LPAs:
- Define Critical Processes:
Begin by clearly outlining the processes that require auditing. These could include safety protocols, quality control procedures, and more.
- Create Audit Checklists:
Develop detailed checklists or assessment criteria to comprehensively cover each step of the audited processes. These checklists serve as a guide for auditors to evaluate compliance.
- Assign Auditors:
Assign individuals from each management level to conduct audits. For example, team leaders could audit frontline operators. Managers could audit team leaders, et cetera.
- Schedule Auditing Frequency:
Set daily, weekly, monthly, or custom audit frequencies in auditors’ calendars to increase ownership and adherence to best practices.
- Conduct Audits:
Regularly conduct audits using checklists. Auditors verify the processes and identify any non-compliance.
- Document Findings:
Audit findings, both positive observations and areas requiring improvement, must always be documented and delegated to the appropriate team.
- Analyze Data:
Collect and analyze audit data to discern trends, recurring issues, and potential areas for process enhancement.
- Manage Corrective and Preventive Actions:
When auditors identify discrepancies or issues, they must define actions, escalate or assign them to the right management layers, and involve cross-functional teams.
- Feedback Loop:
Share audit results and improvement actions with relevant stakeholders. Transparency is critical to building awareness and accountability.
In brief, establishing clear roles and responsibilities for each layer is necessary to ensure that findings from LPAs are not just isolated observations but catalysts for meaningful progress.
Why Conduct Layered Process Audits? Importance and Benefits
Layered Process Audits hold significance in process improvement, quality, and safety control. Here’s why they are indispensable:
- Limiting and Controlling Risks: LPAs offer a proactive approach by identifying and mitigating process-related risks before they spread. By focusing on workplace safety, process standardization, and compliance, LPAs reduce the probability of errors, inconsistencies, and deviation.
- Improving Quality: By verifying standards and procedures regularly, Layered Process Audits enhance operations before issues arise, leading to a reduction in customer complaints, product recalls, or rework.
- Ensuring Compliance: LPAs are a crucial tool for demonstrating compliance with various certifications and guidelines, including ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and CQI-8 (for automotive quality management), ISO 45001 (for safety management), and ISO 14001 (for environmental management).
- Fostering a Culture of Excellence: Implementing LPAs fosters a culture of continuous improvement within the organization. Employees at all levels are encouraged to identify process enhancements and opportunities for improvement.
Above all, the benefits of LPAs extend beyond tangible improvements to include intangible gains, such as increased floor time for management, reinforced process steps, and the demonstration of the importance of critical processes to the entire organization.
The Advantages of Digitized Layered Process Audits
The transition from traditional paper-based audits to digital Layered Process Audits offers countless advantages:
- Faster and More Efficient Audits: Digital LPAs simplify the audit process, making it quicker and more efficient. Thanks to user-friendly interfaces, auditors can complete audits in a fraction of the time required for paper-based audits.
- Improved Management of Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPAs): Managing CAPAs becomes more efficient with digital LPAs. It facilitates the prompt identification and resolution of issues, reducing the time lag between issue identification and resolution.
- Standardized Document Version Control: Digital LPAs ensure up-to-date audit forms and checklists are available across the organization. This standardization simplifies comparisons across different sites and versions.
- Instantaneous Metrics and Data Analysis: Digital LPAs enable real-time data collection. This immediacy ensures that audit results are readily available, allowing swift corrective actions.
- Enhanced Data Security: Technology-based audits are encrypted to protect data from unauthorized access, providing higher data security than paper-based audits.
- Reduction of Hidden Costs: While paper-based systems may seem cost-effective, they often entail hidden costs in terms of time and effort spent on paperwork. Digital LPAs eliminate these hidden costs.
Digital LPAs also improve visibility into document modifications, prevent manual errors, and facilitate continuous improvement initiatives. With digital solutions, users can assign audits efficiently, ensuring that the right individuals receive the correct requests at the right time.
Layered Process Audit Software
Layered Process Audit software is at the forefront of enabling organizations to implement an LPA Program and to conduct audits quickly and efficiently. LPA software offers a wide range of features and benefits, including:
Software Features:
- LPAs Schedules: Effortlessly manage audit schedules to ensure timely assessments.
- Checklists: Create comprehensive lists tailored to your organization’s needs.
- Corrective and Preventive Actions Management: Seamlessly track and manage corrective actions.
- Problem Escalation: Quickly escalate issues to ensure swift resolution.
- Task Management: Efficiently manage tasks associated with LPAs.
- Audit Reporting and Analytics: Access real-time reports and analytics to drive data-informed decisions.
Software Benefits:
- Ease of Use: Ensure auditors can navigate the assessment process effortlessly.
- Administrative Efficiency: Streamline implementation, eliminating administrative burdens and the need for the retranscription of data.
About Tervene
Leader of Layered Process Software
Tervene is a leading provider of Layered Process Audit solutions, empowering organizations to enhance quality, efficiency, and compliance. With a proven track record across manufacturing, distribution, and healthcare industries, the software company helps over a hundred clients reach new heights of operational excellence. Discover how Tervene’s innovative software can supercharge your organization’s approach to Layered Process Audits.
