Describe the purpose of a quality audit.

The purpose of a quality audit is to evaluate the effectiveness of a quality management system. This process involves a systematic examination of quality systems, processes, and controls to determine whether they are operating effectively and in accordance with established standards.

Quality audits help organizations identify areas of improvement within their quality management practices, ensuring compliance with regulations and internal policies. It provides valuable insights into how well the organization adheres to its quality objectives and whether its approach to quality control is achieving the desired outcomes. By assessing these elements, organizations can enhance their quality management systems, leading to improved product quality and customer satisfaction.

Other aspects such as creating new marketing strategies, reducing manufacturing costs, or gathering customer feedback are not the primary objectives of a quality audit. Instead, they focus on operational and strategic areas that fall outside of the main focus of quality system evaluation.