Summary
In short
- An audit plan is a plan used in KnowComply that sets out the scope, criteria, schedule and people involved for a single audit. It is built against ISO 19011 cl.6.2 and forms part of the Internal Audit and Certification programme.
- Written before the audit. Prepared by the lead auditor.
- The template holds 42 fields across 5 sections, with schedule repeating for each entry.
- ISO 19011 is auditing management systems. How to plan, run and report an audit, and how to judge auditor competence. Not certifiable, it is the method.
- It connects to the rest of the library: links Audit Programme.
What it is
What it is
What is an audit plan?
An audit plan is a plan used in KnowComply that sets out the scope, criteria, schedule and people involved for a single audit. It is built against ISO 19011 cl.6.2 and forms part of the Internal Audit and Certification programme.
When is an audit plan completed?
An audit plan is completed when the thing being planned is created, and again at the stated review interval. Written before the audit.
When to use it
When to use it, and when not to
This plan is one step in a larger programme. Using it for work that belongs to a neighbouring template produces records that are hard to report on later.
Use it for
- The event or activity this plan covers has occurred, or is about to
- Authorisation is needed before the work can begin
- A new record is needed; each one gets its own ID in the form APLAN-2026-000
- You are running the Internal Audit and Certification programme and this is one of its steps
- A linked record needs this one to exist: links audit programme
Not for
- Internal Audit Programme, which sets out what will be audited, when, by whom and against which standard, across the year.
- Internal Audit Report, which records an internal audit against a standard or process, with findings and evidence.
- Audit Finding Record, which records a single audit finding with its evidence, clause reference and classification.
- Anything outside KnowComply, which belongs in the workspace that owns that process
Standards
What it is built against
ISO 19011Auditing management systems
How to plan, run and report an audit, and how to judge auditor competence. Not certifiable, it is the method.
ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
A voluntary international standard. Widely adopted, often required by customers, and certifiable where a management system standard.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the audit plan template based on?+
It is built against ISO 19011 cl.6.2. ISO 19011 is auditing management systems. How to plan, run and report an audit, and how to judge auditor competence. Not certifiable, it is the method. ISO is international Organization for Standardization. A voluntary international standard. Widely adopted, often required by customers, and certifiable where a management system standard.
What sections does the audit plan contain?+
There are 5 sections: header, objectives and scope, approach, schedule, logistics. Together they hold 42 fields, 31 of which are required.
How often is an audit plan raised?+
A new record is raised when the thing being planned is created, and again at the stated review interval. Each one is given an ID in the form APLAN-2026-000, so it can be traced and referenced from other records.
Which programme does the audit plan belong to?+
It is part of Internal Audit and Certification. Findings closed on root cause rather than on correction, and readiness held every day.
Can the audit plan template be changed?+
Yes. Every field, option, score and conditional rule is editable, and the links to other templates come with it. Most teams install it as it is, run it for a cycle, then adjust.
The agents
What the agents do with it
The form is the easy part. Keeping it current, routing it to the right owner and holding the evidence together is the work that actually slips.
Holds the audit plan library against your registers, routes each record to its owner, and keeps the evidence trail together.
Coordinates the crew, rolls completion and exceptions into one view, and holds every write for your approval before it touches a record.
This template lives in KnowComply — audit and governance. Audit programmes, legal register, management review, risk and certification.
Sources
Sources
- ISO 19011 — Auditing management systems
- ISO — International Organization for Standardization