As the name indicates, gap analysis is the process of detecting the gap between your present management system and the ISO standards Management System. All ISO Management Systems have specified provisions that differ from one standard to the next.
If you discover something in your present management system that does not totally or partially meet the standards of ISO standard Management System or any of the clause(s), that non-fulfilling point is referred to as a “Gap” in your system.
Because the term “Gap Analysis” is made up of two terms, “Gap” and “Analysis,” Gap Analysis when used together denotes an activity used to assess the gaps between your present management system and ISO standards.
When it comes to ISO Gap Analysis Checklists, it is important to complete all non-compliant areas before obtaining ISO certification. Completing all of the non-compliant criteria is equivalent to closing the gap between your present management system and the ISO standard. The gap analysis tool is used to assess the system’s preparedness for an ISO audit. It also aids in the in-depth analysis of one’s system’s strengths and flaws, resulting in future management system changes.
Why Is Gap Analysis And ISO Certification Necessary?
Gap analysis is an important technique among all ISO certification tools since it allows you to not only detect flaws in your existing management system but also remedy any future damages that the business may experience. Furthermore, a gap analysis will suggest answers to the present management system’s entire and partial gaps.
Gap Analysis Team Formation
Participants in the gap analysis team should be both required and elective. Cross-functional members of the gap analysis team should include personnel from several departments such as production, quality, maintenance, and other relevant departments based on the scope of the gap analysis. The Gap analysis team shall be in charge of leading the exercise and reviewing the procedures in compliance with ISO standards. A team leader must be chosen from among the Gap analysis team members so that he or she may be assigned responsibilities like meeting scheduling, agenda preparation, and information gathering to present to the conference table before and after the meeting.
The gap analysis team will be responsible for investigating every process in the present management system and comparing the current management system processes to the ISO standards’ criteria. If it becomes necessary to adapt or alter an existing process in the present management system in compliance with ISO standards, the gap analysis team will assist the audit team to the greatest degree feasible. Once the revised or updated process has been approved, it will be introduced to the whole management team, and training sessions, as well as refresher sessions with post-evaluation exams, will be conducted to get everyone on the same page.
Top Five Things To Consider When Creating A Gap Analysis Report
To create a genuinely effective Gap analysis report, one must consider the following top five elements while producing a Gap Analysis Report:
• The gap analysis report should be precise. Make certain that you do not include any apparent or unnecessary details.
• Don’t forget to describe the existing condition as well as the percentage of conformity with stated ISO standards.
• Slowly narrow down the underlying reason for discovered gaps.
• Ensure that the detected gaps are simply explainable to management, i.e. they should not contain ambiguous phrases.
• Some quick proposed measures should be included in the Gap Analysis report to bridge the non-compliant points as soon as possible.
