Why Are Internal Audits and Management Review Important for Management Systems?

For any organization, the management system is the core of its operations. The management system includes policies, procedures and processes by which an organization operates to ensure desired objectives are met. There are several ways an organization can evaluate if their management system is achieving its full potential. The two key elements and requirements of all management systems are internal audits and management review. Management review, or the routine evaluation of the management system is necessary. This review, typically at planned intervals, will pinpoint operational performance of the organization and determine improvements that can be made to achieve set goals and objectives. Additionally, Internal auditing also allows an organization to assess the implementation of the management system. During this process, independent areas of the management system are evaluated to ensure the desired outcomes are realized. Management systems require monitoring and auditing for improvement. Internal audits and management review provide the opportunity to address issues within the organization’s management system and take steps to resolve them proactively.