How Can Auditors Stay Future Ready?

I’ve just returned from another great ASQ Audit Division Conference.  This year’s theme was “Future Ready: Empowering Auditors, Transforming Tomorrow”.  As expected, there were sessions on AI and how to incorporate it into audits, but that’s just one part of staying relevant.  Other topics included the ISO 9001 revision (I’ll cover that in a future blog), ensuring we have the skills and mindset to bring value through audits, and the ongoing importance of the human touch. 

This year, I also had the privilege of serving on the conference team that brought this experience to the audit community.  It gave me a much greater appreciation of everything that goes into delivering a conference like this!  I hope everyone that attended learned at least one idea to apply in their quality journey.  Here are some of my key takeaways.

Conformance to Performance

Throughout the conference there was a strong emphasis on shifting our mindset from conformance to a focus on organizational performance.  It was a theme I heard echoed repeatedly in conversations with attendees about what resonated with them.  It’s also consistent with the message ISO shared during the live launch video of ISO 9001:2026 and was reinforced in multiple conference sessions. 

Conformance does not automatically equal effectiveness.  By evaluating how well an organization is performing and whether it is achieving its intended results, rather than simply checking boxes, auditors can identify meaningful opportunities for improvement. 

AI and the Human Touch

AI is still a hot topic, but it feels like the conversation has shifted.  The focus was on how we can effectively use AI as a tool to enhance the audit process.  However, like any tool, there are limits to what it can do. 

Several discussions highlighted using AI for what it does well and relying on human strengths for the rest.  Keynote speaker Michael Fank encouraged attendees to do the thing AI can’t do.  Auditors bring the ability to interpret the unspoken and undocumented, evaluate effectiveness, and build trust and connection with the people we audit.  Applying these uniquely human capabilities provides deeper insight and brings greater value to the organization.

Add Value

Underlying nearly every session was the need for audits to deliver value.  Keynote speaker JD Marhevko spoke about influencing others in ways that bring value.  Building trust reduces fear and creates opportunities for collaboration.  Shifting our focus from determining conformance to evaluating organizational effectiveness helps identify areas for improvement.  Our ability to observe, interpret and exercise judgement helps uncover gaps and opportunities that might otherwise be missed.  When we communicate those opportunities clearly and connect them to organizational goals, audits become a valuable tool for improvement.

The Path to Future Ready Auditors

So how do we stay Future Ready? 

We stay resilient and adapt to changes.  We continue learning so we remain current and effectively use new tools and technologies.  We build relationships that support growth, shared learning and collaboration.  And we embrace the unique value we bring as auditors while building a strong culture of quality. 

The future of auditing will continue to evolve, but the need for auditors who can think critically, build trust and help organizations improve isn’t going away.