Internal Audits are vital in medical device development, but the results of an internal audit are not always the easiest to hear.  Depending on the level of depth that an internal audit goes into, the results and feedback can seem nit-picky and extremely negative.

If this resonates with you, and you too fear  the letters NC (non-conformance), you are not alone.  Given that a simple Google search for “how to receive criticism” returns 363,000 results, it is apparent that quite a few people struggle with accepting scrutiny and feedback.   Often times internal audits are based on a daunting checklist that picks apart the documentation of your project.  It can seem overwhelming in its detail and instill a fear of what appears to be a mountain of documentation ahead of you.
When you break it down though, the goal of internal audits is to ensure that you keep organized records, get sign off on your documentation, and keep documents up to date.  All good things right? Even though we might not be very skilled at receiving criticism, it can be of huge value to improving processes and productivity.
In order to fully unearth the value of an internal audit there are three myths we need to dispel:

1. Paperwork is getting in the way of my productivity 
Have you ever walked to the office supply room to get something and by the time you get there you completely forget what you were looking for?  The brain is easily distracted, and without records, things that seem crystal clear in your mind today will surely be blurry when the 5 year documentation retention period is up.  Well organized documentation shows professionalism in addition to helping you keep track of important information.

2. The internal auditor is out to get me 
It is important to set your defensiveness aside for a moment, and understand that this audit is for your own good; The auditor is on your team!  An internal audit is a much better place to get a non-conformance than in an external audit, and this audit is a great prep to ensure that all of your documentation is in order before going into an external audit.

3. I feel just like I’m back in grade school, with every red pen mark a slap in the face
Framing this as a purely negative evaluation process is going to make it feel like a grade school exam.  If instead you can view it as an opportunity for improvement and an opportunity to showcase the hard work you have put into your project then this will help to remove the stigma around it.

If you have successfully been able to put aside these myths, here are a few useful tips to get the most value out of an internal audit:

1.  Review the checklist the internal auditor will work though
This will give you a sense of where you are at and what you are in for in the audit.

2. Gather together all of your documentation in one place
This will help simplify the audit process, and will eliminate the embarrassment of rooting around on desks and in drawers to find that one rogue document during the audit. 

3. Have a plan of action for how the internal audit will translate to action   
Many companies have CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) programs to deal with audit findings and observations.  It is important to make good use of the recommendations made since they will help to improve your projects/processes and you will be able to apply what you have learned in your future work.
No longer do you need to fear the red pen, you can go into an internal audit excited to learn and improve your processes.  An internal audit will help you pay closer attention to detail in your project organization in future, and will hopefully open your eyes to the benefits of documentation.  On a more tangible note, thorough and well organized records will dramatically ease the stress of otherwise painful and lengthy 60601 edition 3 and technical file submissions for medical device approval.