Internal Audit of Inspection Body Activities: An Example of the Regional Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology

Introduction: Internal audits are one of the mechanisms for ensuring compliance of inspection bodies with accreditation criteria. Relevant issues include identifying key nonconformities to criteria for accreditation as well as time and resource limitations for developing adequate corrective actions that require preliminary analysis of nonconformities in terms of their priority and dynamics of changes.

Objective: To analyze nonconformities identified during internal audits and develop priority measures aimed to increase compliance of the inspection body with accreditation criteria using the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Rostov Region as an example.

Materials and Methods: We used nonconformity reports and corrective action logs of the inspection body covering the period from 2022 to September 2025 for the study purposes and applied structural logic and descriptive statistics methods, including Pareto analysis. In total, 107 nonconformities identified during 33 audits conducted over the study period have been analyzed.

Results: We established that most nonconforming processes requiring immediate attention fell into the categories of personnel, control of documents, control of inspections, document storage and archiving, and review of requests and contracts. Priority corrective actions and measures to improve inspection authority operations were then developed. Subsequent analysis revealed consistent signs of positive dynamics in the nature of detected nonconformities over the study period, indicating the effectiveness of the actions taken.

Conclusions: Our findings allowed us to evaluate the impact of individual nonconformities on the overall picture, set proper priorities for subsequent development of corrective actions, and use resources rationally to eliminate root causes. 

1. Kitovsky SA, Byakova SA. How to successfully pass accreditation? Typical mistakes and ways to avoid them. Analitika. 2025;15(2):134-138. (In Russ.) doi: 10.22184/2227-572X.2025.15.2.134.138

2. Valitova YaR, Ismailova RN. Difficulties in preparing the inspection agency for the accreditation process. Ekonomika i Upravlenie: Problemy, Resheniya. 2022;3(11):10-17. (In Russ.) doi: 10.36871/ek.up.p.r.2022.11.03.002

3. Egorova EV. Analysis of modern problems of internal audit in organizations. Auditorskie Vedomosti. 2022;(1):30-32. (In Russ.) doi: 10.24411/1727-8058-2022-1-30-32

4. Hanskamp-Sebregts M, Robben PB, Wollersheim H, Zegers M. Transparency about internal audit results to reduce the supervisory burden: A qualitative study on the preconditions of sharing audit results. Health Policy. 2020;124(2):216-223. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.11.013

5. Meshkova NL, Kudenko MS, Popova EV. Directions for improving internal audit at industrial enterprises. Nauchnyy Vestnik Luganskogo Gosudarstvennogo Agrarnogo Universiteta. 2022;(3(16)):189-195. (In Russ.)

6. Aleksandrov SL, Timofeeva NB, Orlova NA, Khamidullina LI. Internal audit: Management of initiative proposals for activities’ improvement. Сompetency (Russia). 2023;(9- 10):86-94. (In Russ.) doi: 10.24412/1993-8780-2023-9-86-94

7. Kruglova YuV. Internal audit & management review as a tool for improvement. Сompetency (Russia). 2024;(9- 10):47-51. (In Russ.) doi: 10.24412/1993-8780-2024-9-47-51

8. Santhiapillai FP, Ratnayake RMC. Risk-based prioritization method for planning and allocation of resources in public sector. TQMJ. 2021;34(4):829-844. doi: 10.1108/TQM-02-2021-0039

9. Rudomyotova MO. The importance of internal audits in the quality management systems. In: Young Pharmacy – Potential of the Future: Proceedings of the XV Russian Scientific Conference with International Participation of the Youth Scientific Society of SPCPU, St. Petersburg, April 7–8, 2025. St. Petersburg: Saint Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical University; 2025:940-943. (In Russ.)

10. Mal’tseva EM. [Analysis of nonconforming products using Pareto chart.] Moya Professional’naya Kar’era. 2023;1(44):39-42. (In Russ.)

11. Kuznetsova NV. Improvement methods and tools. Pareto analysis. Vnedrenie Sovremennykh Konstruktsiy i Peredovykh Tekhnologiy v Putevoe Khozyaistvo. 2024;20:169-173. (In Russ.)

12. Salikhov DD, Lisitsky SV. Analysis of the use of lean technology tools in production: “Pareto diagram” and the method “5 why?” Skif. Voprosy Studencheskoy Nauki. 2024;(1(89)):47-53. (In Russ.) Accessed January 19, 2026. https://sciff.ru/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Sciff_01_89.pdf

13. Jurk NA. Use of statistical methods of quality management to estimate production stability. Ekonomika Sel’skogo Khozyaystva Rossii. 2020;(2):91-95. (In Russ.) doi: 10.32651/202-92

14. Kotb A, Elbardan H, Halabi H. Mapping of internal audit research: A post-Enron structured literature review. AAAJ. 2020;33(8):1969-1996. doi: 10.1108/aaaj-07-2018-3581

15. Gyimah P, Owusu-Afriyie R. Bank sustainability: Do corporate governance and internal audit quality matter? World Dev Sustain. 2025;6:100222. doi: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100222

16. Evloeva MV, Loncikh PA, Fedotova AV, Golovina EYu, Loncikh NP. The Pareto diagram as a quality management tool for sustainable development systems. Izvestiya Samarskogo Nauchnogo Tsentra Rossiyskoy Akademii Nauk. 2024;26(4):118-123. (In Russ.) doi: 10.37313/1990-5378-2024-26-4-118-123

17. Haievskyi V. Study of possibilities of joint application of Pareto analysis and risk analysis during corrective actions. Technology Transfer: Fundamental Principles and Innovative Technical Solutions. 2020;4:22-24. doi: 10.21303/2585-6847.2020.001536

18. Shastina EM. Guaranteed service of food industry equipment based on statistical quality control methods in the regional economy. Estestvenno-Gumanitarnye Issledovaniya. 2025;(3(59)):569-573. (In Russ.)

19. Boeriu AE. Canja CM. Application of FMEA and Pareto analysis methods in the process of industrial bread making in Romania. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov, Series II: Forestry, Wood Industry, Agricultural Food Engineering. 2022;14(63):75-84. doi: 10.31926/but.fwiafe.2021.14.63.2.7

20. Mccormick K, Sanders JH. Corrective and preventive action. In: Quality. 2nd ed. United Kingdom: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2022:187-217. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-90815-3.00012-8

21. Hejne M. Defect analysis of EN AC-435000 alloy die castings using the Pareto-Lorentz diagram. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization and Management Series. 2023;(172):18. doi: 10.29119/1641-3466.2023.172.18

22. Jagusiak-Kocik M, Żywiołek Ju. Risk assessment and analysis in toy production: A case study of plastic block manufacturing using Pareto-Lorenz and FMEA methods. System Safety: Human – Technical Facility – Environment. 2024;6(1):330-338. doi: 10.2478/czoto-2024-0035

23. Boeriu AE, Canja CM. Application of FMEA and Pareto analysis methods in the process of industrial bread making in Romania. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov, Series II: Forestry, Wood Industry, Agricultural Food Engineering. 2022;14(2):75-84. doi: 10.31926/but.fwiafe.2021.14.63.2.7

24. Markin AE. A Pareto chart as one of the tools for analyzing statistical data. In: Development of Science in the 21st Century: Challenges, Achievements and Prospects: Proceedings of the III International Scientific and Practical Conference, Anapa, August 1, 2025. Anapa: Research Center for Economic and Social Processes in the Southern Federal District LLC; 2025:25-29. (In Russ.)