Performing a Gap Analysis

One of the first steps in your Quality Management System (QMS) transition or implementation project is to compare your current QMS to the requirements of the ISO 9000:2000 standard. This is most commonly called a Gap Analysis.

Gap Analysis Checklist

The most important tool for the Gap Analysis is the Gap Analysis Checklist This is a list of the requirements in the standard, written in question format. The auditor will use this list to compare the QMS that is in place with the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 Standard. Our checklist provides the auditor with recommendations of what documents to look for, examples of what will meet the requirements and other guidance on auditing to the standard. The checklist also gives the auditor a specific place to document what they saw that did or did not meet the standard.

Scheduling and Performing the Gap Analysis

Schedule and perform the audit. Allow enough time to do an in-depth audit. The more information you can provide for your task lists and project plan, the more efficient and effective your project will be.

When the audit has been completed, meet with the auditors to summarize the results. These results can be transferred to task lists for the implementation. This meeting should be held shortly after the audit, so that information is fresh in the auditors' memory.