// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Process Audit
An examination of a manufacturing process to ensure it is operating according to documented procedures and achieving its intended results.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A Process Audit is a systematic, independent examination of a manufacturing or operational process to evaluate its adherence to defined procedures, specifications, and regulatory requirements, assessing its effectiveness, efficiency, and capability to consistently produce conforming output.
BACKGROUND
Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of the secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high-tech, but it is most commonly applied to industrial design, in which raw materials from the primary sector are transformed into finished goods on a large scale. Such goods may be sold to other manufacturers for the production of other more complex products, or distributed via the tertiary sector to end users and consumers.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Manufacturing audit
- Operational audit
- Process review
- Compliance audit
USAGE NOTE
Process audits help identify inefficiencies and non-compliance within production lines.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Process Audit.
Develops the Opcenter Quality and MindSphere IoT platform, which enable real-time process monitoring, data collection, and analysis for automated quality assurance and digital process audits in smart factories.
Offers the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, which includes Quality Management System (QMS) capabilities for digitizing checklists, conducting layered process audits (LPAs), and using real-time data for statistical process control (SPC).
Provides a dedicated software platform specifically designed for digitizing and managing Layered Process Audits (LPAs), helping manufacturers ensure process standardization, identify non-conformances, and drive continuous improvement.
Specializes in machine vision systems and AI-based software that automate visual inspections on production lines. This technology serves as a continuous, automated audit of product quality and assembly processes.
Offers industrial software, including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and the PI System, that collects and contextualizes real-time operational data. This data forms the foundation for digital process audits, performance monitoring, and quality compliance.
Provides a combination of metrology hardware (sensors, scanners) and quality management software for statistical process control (SPC), enabling manufacturers to audit production processes against design specifications with high precision.
Develops the Solumina Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and Enterprise Quality Management System (EQMS), which provides a digital thread for complex manufacturing. The platform enforces process adherence and creates detailed audit trails for compliance.
Provides a frontline operations platform that allows manufacturers to create applications for managing shop floor processes. Their apps can digitize quality checks, audit checklists, and data collection, creating real-time visibility into process adherence.