Audit-Proofing Your Lab: A Consultant’s Checklist
Audit-Proofing Your Lab: A Consultant’s Checklist
By Lab Ops Pro | Lab Systems Consulting for Industrial & Manufacturing Labs
🧯 The Stakes Are High
Whether it’s ISO, FDA, EPA, or internal audits, the moment someone says “audit,” tension spikes. And with good reason — one misstep can lead to:
• Costly shutdowns
• Compliance penalties
• Damaged reputation
• Lost contracts or customers
But here’s the thing: audit panic is preventable.
🔍 Lab Ops Pro’s Audit Readiness Checklist
Use this checklist to identify your lab’s weak points — and fix them before your next inspection.
✅ 1. SOPs Are Updated and Followed
• Last review dates visible?
• Are techs actually following procedures?
• Is version control in place?
🧪 Tip: If SOPs exist just to satisfy paperwork — and not guide daily work — they’ll backfire in an audit.
✅ 2. Training Records Are Current
• Are your training logs centralized?
• Can you prove who’s qualified to do what?
• Is cross-training documented?
🧠 Auditors don’t just care about documents — they care that your people understand and follow them.
✅ 3. Corrective Actions Are Tracked
• Do you have a system for recording and resolving errors or deviations?
• Is root cause analysis documented?
🔍 “We fixed it” isn’t enough — show your improvement process.
✅ 4. Equipment Calibration and Maintenance Logs Are Accessible
• Are your balances, ovens, and analytical instruments within spec?
• Are logs complete, legible, and organized?
🛠️ Missing logs are red flags. Regular audits fail because of paperwork, not performance.
✅ 5. Safety & Regulatory Compliance Is Not Just on Paper
• Are MSDS sheets up to date?
• Is PPE compliance consistent?
• Are emergency procedures visible and practiced?
🚨 Auditors will observe your lab in action — not just flip through binders.
⚙️ Don’t Just Pass. Be Confident.
An audit shouldn’t feel like a gamble. It should feel like a formality.
Lab Ops Pro works with industrial and manufacturing labs to:
• Clean up SOPs and training systems
• Organize logs and compliance documents
• Train staff on what auditors really want
• Conduct mock audits so you’re always inspection-ready
🔗 Want to Avoid Audit Panic?
✅ Check out our flat-rate consulting packages