Converting a Standard Clause to a Checklist Item
A checklist item stating that “document control is in place” might appear to make sense, yet it provides the auditor with minimal information to audit against. What constitutes being in…
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Normative and Informative Content: A Beginner-Friendly Distinction
Normative content is content that supports requirements for compliance. It could be a requirement in the main body of a standard, a normative reference or a normative annex. What is…
Shall, Should, May, and Can: What These Words Signal in Standards
What “shall,” “should,” “may” and “can” mean in a standard: “The record shall be retained” and “the record should be retained” seem very similar, but do not mean the same…
How to Read the Scope of a Standard Before Studying Its Requirements
The best way to start when learning how to read a standard is to read the scope before reading the requirements. Often we open up a standard at the first…