Quality Auditor Certification ASQ Certified Quality Auditor 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During an audit, the auditor discovers that a corrective action from a previous audit has not been implemented. What is the most appropriate action?
- Close the finding as resolved
- Document a repeat finding and escalate to audit management (Correct answer)
- Issue an immediate stop-work order
- Ignore it since it is outside the current audit scope
Correct answer: Document a repeat finding and escalate to audit management
Repeat findings must be documented and escalated because they indicate a systemic failure in the corrective action process.
Question 2: Which sampling method gives every item in the population an equal chance of being selected?
- Stratified sampling
- Cluster sampling
- Simple random sampling (Correct answer)
- Systematic sampling
Correct answer: Simple random sampling
Simple random sampling ensures each unit has an equal and independent probability of selection, eliminating selection bias.
Question 3: An audit finding is best described as:
- A statement of noncompliance supported by objective evidence (Correct answer)
- An auditor's opinion about a process weakness
- A recommendation for process improvement
- A summary of the audit scope
Correct answer: A statement of noncompliance supported by objective evidence
An audit finding is a factual statement of noncompliance or conformance that is substantiated by verifiable objective evidence.
Question 4: The primary purpose of an audit work plan is to:
- Document nonconformances identified during the audit
- Outline the resources, schedule, and activities needed to complete the audit (Correct answer)
- Summarize the final audit conclusions
- Define the criteria for closing corrective actions
Correct answer: Outline the resources, schedule, and activities needed to complete the audit
An audit work plan details the logistics, responsibilities, timeline, and methods the audit team will use to execute the audit.
Question 5: When an auditor encounters a situation where the auditee's representative refuses to provide requested records, the auditor should:
- Immediately terminate the audit
- Document the refusal and notify the lead auditor (Correct answer)
- Accept verbal assurances instead
- Mark the area as conforming since evidence was unavailable
Correct answer: Document the refusal and notify the lead auditor
Refusal to provide records is itself an observation that must be documented and communicated to the lead auditor for resolution.
Question 6: Which of the following best defines 'audit scope'?
- The depth of sampling used during the audit
- The boundaries and extent of the audit, including locations, processes, and time period (Correct answer)
- The list of auditors assigned to the engagement
- The criteria against which the audit is conducted
Correct answer: The boundaries and extent of the audit, including locations, processes, and time period
Audit scope defines what is included and excluded—such as specific sites, functions, and the time period under review.
Question 7: A process audit differs from a product audit in that a process audit:
- Evaluates finished goods against specifications
- Examines the steps and controls of a process to assess compliance and effectiveness (Correct answer)
- Is only conducted by external auditors
- Focuses exclusively on supplier qualifications
Correct answer: Examines the steps and controls of a process to assess compliance and effectiveness
A process audit examines how work is performed, including inputs, controls, and outputs, rather than just evaluating end products.
Quality Auditor Certification ASQ Certified Quality Auditor 2
During an audit, the auditor discovers that a corrective action from a previous audit has not been implemented.
What is the most appropriate action?