Role of Internal Quality Audit as Facilitator of continuous improvement In Sudanese Organizations

Abstract

This study carried out in Khartoum state during the period of April 2012 to December 2013. The study aimed to evaluate the role of internal quality audits as facilitator of continuous improvement in Sudanese organizations that accredited ISO 9001:2008. Survey questionnaire designed and administered to 30 organizations which their activities are industrial or service. The researcher received only 25 filled questionnaires with response rate of 83 % for both types of organizations. 100% was obtained for industrial organizations and 66 % obtained for service ones. The study was tried to answer the following questions: 1- For how long Sudanese organizations recognizing that the audit process is one of the best tools for continuous improvement? 2- To know if everybody in the organization share a belief in the positive discussion of problems and deficiencies as necessary first step in achieving continuous improvement? The statistical analysis using Chi-square showed that: There is significant difference with statistical indicator within the answers of sample individual around the answer with high frequency which strongly agree by which we accept the two hypotheses. From this study we conclude that Sudanese organizations learn that the high value of internal audit in achieving continuous improvement and recognize that audit process is one of the best tools for continuous improvement. From this study the researcher recommends that, the Sudanese organizations should maximize their benefits from internal audits. And for the audit to be an effective improvement and compliance tool, it must be conducted on an on-going basis, and the management should ensuring that corrective and improvement are completed in a timely manner and the root cause where necessary is determined. The auditors and auditees they have to work together in achieving a common goal – improved performance.