The highly-awaited revision of ISO 19011, Guidelines for auditing management systems, has now been published.

ISO 19011 offers a uniform, harmonized approach, which enables effective auditing across multiple systems at the same time.

The standard has been revised to ensure it continues to provide effective guidance to address changes in the marketplace, evolving technologies, and new management system standards.

“Other key changes in the 2018 version include the addition of a risk-based approach to the principles of auditing to reflect the enhanced focus on risk in both management standards and in the marketplace,” Denise Robitaille, Chair of the ISO project committee that revised ISO 19011, said.

“There are tips on auditing risks and opportunities as well as information on applying risk-based thinking to the audit process.

“In addition, guidance has been expanded in a number of areas such as managing an audit programme and conducting an audit.”