Planning and executing internal auditing for environmental management system

Abstract

TUNI Facility Services & Management has built their environmental management system during 2021 and 2022 by using EcoCompass as their template and auditing system. One of the suggestions by the auditor was to create and execute an internal audit for the environmental management system in order to make their environmental work more efficient and continuous. The objective of this thesis was to study different internal auditing methods and based on the research, create as suitable internal auditing system to the client as possible. The area of the subject was outlined to plan, build and guide to implement internal audit for the client.

The process included theoretical research of the topic, including studies about other companies doing their internal auditing and ISO 14001 requirements considering internal auditing. Practical part consists of individual interviews and subject centred working with the topics covered in internal audit. The final appearance and content of the internal audit was designed individually to Facility Services & Management according to their wishes.

The result of the study is a simple but working internal auditing form with written instructions. It makes the process easier in the future and does not make internal audit person dependent. Internal auditing gives valuable insight about possible points of development which could be improved in the future. The internal auditing process was successful, and the customer is satisfied with the outcome. In the future further research is needed to investigate if the current internal audit is comprehensive enough to help Facility Services & Management with their environmental work and incoming external auditing.