Denise Jenkins likes to travel, so the fact that her role as a Lead Auditor on the Nadcap program has taken her all over the U.S., and to Canada and Europe, is a real bonus at this stage in her career. In future, she is also hoping to travel to Australia, Asia and Mexico.

“I enjoy seeing other manufacturing sites and meeting new people,” she says. “I also feel valued in what I do, ensuring that customer’s requirements are being met.” Denise achieved a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering before joining 3M, where she worked for 36 years, eventually becoming a plant manager for its sealant operations.

Planting the seed for career change

During that time, another Performance Review Institute (PRI) Auditor was working regularly in her manufacturing facility on sealant surveillance. This planted the seed in her mind that she could work part-time in an area she knew a lot about. These days, since 2019, Denise has been a Lead Auditor for sealants with PRI, while also training as an Auditor for elastomer seals.

In this role she prepares for audits by notifying the auditees when she is assigned to audit their site. Before visiting, she will also research previous audits to determine the company’s history of Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs).

Sound advice for companies

Companies often ask Denise about the best way to prepare for an audit. When they’re performing the self-audit assessments against the current checklists, she tells them to treat this as a true internal audit of their processes. She advises them to make sure they review all current versions of the specifications referenced in the checklists, as well as customer specifications, to ensure they are being followed. It is also important that key personnel are available during the audit.

Importance of clear communications

During the audit itself, Denise aims to complete the checklists in a timely manner and communicate clearly with the auditee. Crucially, as a sealant surveillance Auditor, she reviews test worksheets and reports for accuracy and completeness, while observing tests to confirm that they meet the required industry standards.

“Customers expect that suppliers are following the specifications that they require,” Denise says. “The Nadcap program provides a framework for companies to maintain a level of high quality and to ensure that industry specifications are being adhered to. In fact, quality was a consistent thread throughout my time at 3M. I am a certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor and AS9100 Lead Auditor. I have also received certification for the ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence and Certified Quality Auditor.”

Typical day

When conducting an audit, Denise arrives promptly at 8am, and the opening meeting with company contacts usually begins at 8.15am. After this meeting, the scope is verified, paperwork job audits are identified and samples for witness testing are selected. The rest of the morning is taken up with observing operations and testing.

After a working lunch, she reviews calibration certificates and paper job audits, verifies previous NCRs and reviews any open checklist questions with the audit contact. Any non-conformances are written up and reviewed at the closing meeting at the end of the day.

Preparing for a successful audit

“Preparing in advance is important for a successful audit, both for the audit itself and for the travel arrangements,” she says. “My advice to other auditors would be to review past audits so they can understand areas where the company has had non-conformances.

“Take plenty of notes during the audit and allow enough time before the end of the audit to review the checklists and write up the non-conformances. I would also advise taking a test drive to the company the day before, so that you are familiar with the site and the directions.”

Pride in the role

Denise is proud of her role as a Lead Auditor. She believes she plays an important part in making sure materials are manufactured to the customers’ specifications. She would recommend PRI to other auditors – especially to anyone who would like to work part-time when they want to, but also stay home when they need to.

“Auditing to the checklists makes things straightforward and easy as an auditor,” she says. “Once non-conformances are documented and the audit is submitted in the system, an auditor’s work is done.” Audit reviewers follow up with the auditee to close out their non-conformances.

Great support staff

“My support staff are all great to work with and open to ideas for improvement. Auditing keeps me mentally sharp and challenged at this stage of my career. The pay is great, all travel expenses are covered, and travelling to parts of the country and the world that I have never seen before is a major side benefit.”