What is the purpose of an audit report?

The purpose of an audit report is fundamentally to assess the quality process within an organization. This involves a comprehensive evaluation of the systems, methods, and practices employed to ensure that products or services meet specified quality standards. By focusing on assessing the quality process, the audit report provides insights into compliance with quality standards, identifies areas for improvement, and promotes accountability within the organization. It enables management to make informed decisions based on data-driven evaluations and to implement corrective actions where necessary.

In contrast, simply listing defects in the process, summarizing equipment used, or identifying the production schedule does not capture the holistic view of quality management that an audit report aims to provide. These aspects may be components of the overall quality assessment, but they do not encompass the broader purpose of the audit report itself.