Audit Preparation
Certification Audit & Surveillance Preparation
Already have a system, but not sure it's ready for the auditor? This is a standalone service — readiness checks, a mock audit and support on the day of the real audit, regardless of who implemented the system.
When you need this service
Implementation and audit preparation don't always have to go together. If the system was introduced internally, through another consultant, or is simply a few years "old," it's useful before a certification audit or annual surveillance to have someone independent and systematic check from the outside that everything is genuinely ready.
This service is most often requested by organisations that: are facing their first certification audit and want confidence before Stage 1/2; have an annual surveillance audit coming up; are changing certification body; or received nonconformities at a previous audit that need to be reliably closed.
What preparation includes
Concrete activities, tailored to how much time you have before the audit:
A quick review of documentation and practice against the standard's requirements — a clear list of what's missing.
We simulate the real audit using the same methodology: interviews, process observation, record review.
Policies, procedures and records are aligned with actual practice — no binders nobody reads.
Short workshops: what the auditor asks, how to answer confidently and accurately, without the nerves.
We accompany you at Stage 1, Stage 2, or the annual surveillance audit and help with communication with the auditor.
If the audit does uncover nonconformities, we help make sure corrective actions are closed on time.
What the process looks like
Usually four steps, tailored to the time you have before the audit:
Why hire independent preparation
You discover weaknesses yourself, at the mock audit — not the auditor, at the real one.
Employees know what to expect and how to answer — less nerves, fewer mistakes.
Systematic review regardless of who implemented the system — a fresh eye spots what gets overlooked from the inside.
Fewer repeat audits and extended deadlines caused by unresolved nonconformities.
FAQ
Can I use this service even if the system wasn't implemented through you?
Yes. Audit preparation is an independent service — we're often engaged by organisations whose system was implemented internally or through another consultant, who want an independent readiness check before the audit.
What is a mock audit?
A simulation of the real certification audit: we review documentation, interview employees and observe processes using the same methodology an auditor uses, then give you a list of findings to close before the real audit.
Are you present on the day of the real audit?
Yes, by arrangement we accompany you at the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audit (or an annual surveillance audit) — helping with communication with the auditor and quickly resolving any minor findings on the spot.
How long does audit preparation take?
For a routine annual surveillance audit, usually 1 to 2 weeks; for a first certification audit or an audit after a longer gap, 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the state the system is found in.
How much does preparation for a certification audit or surveillance cost?
There is no fixed price that applies to everyone — the cost depends on the organisation's field of activity, its size, the number of standards involved and the current state of the system. Send us a short description of your organisation and we will prepare a free, tailored estimate.
Related pages
Related:
Some of our references
More than 400 organisations in Montenegro and the region have gone through implementation with us — from banks and public bodies to manufacturing, IT, laboratories and hospitality.
These are only some of our clients. More about us →
Have an audit or surveillance coming up?
Tell us the date and which standard is involved — we will propose a preparation plan that arrives on time. Call us or send an inquiry — we reply within 24 hours.