On the Difference Between an Audit and an Assessment

“Audits” and “Assessments” may sound similar, but they are substantially different.

Quality Management Basics

One of the core tasks of quality management is systematically evaluating adherence to quality aspects. Typically, one or several national and international standards apply to any given discipline, such as product design and development.

In software and systems engineering, Automotive SPICE (see automotivespice.com), led by the German auto manufacturers association VDA (vda.de), is arguably one of the most relevant standards.

Audit vs. Assessment – The Official Definitions

The Automotive SPICE Assessment Model (a supplementary document to the Automotive SPICE standard) defines the terms as follows:

• Audit: An evaluation of work products and processes against specifications, standards, processes, or other agreements, generally carried out based on checklists.

• Assessment: A formalized and standardized evaluation of the processes of an organizational unit against a reference model (the “process reference model”). Depending on the situation, the assessor’s experience is used in the assessment.

Practical Differences

While neither audits nor assessments can ever be entirely objective, there are notable differences:

• Assessments use standardized rating schemes (e.g., none – partially – mostly – fully).

• Audits tend to result in binary outcomes, much like test cases (pass/fail).

Still, both definitions often feel too vague. Terms such as “usually” or “generally” don’t provide much precision.

A Clearer Distinction

I propose a simpler, more pragmatic distinction:

• Audits are based on the quality manager’s checklist.

• Assessments are based on formal standards and reference models.

While not perfect, this definition reduces room for rhetorical debate—and its simplicity is hard to beat.

The Limits of Checklists and Standards

It is important to note:

• A checklist alone does not guarantee effectiveness. Its value depends on intention, style, internal policies, and context.

• Standards such as Automotive SPICE, CMMI, or ISO 26262 are always subject to interpretation—and, unfortunately, often to corporate politics.

The Human Factor

At the end of the day, the most critical factor is the professional skill and experience of the quality manager.

As the popular saying goes:

“A fool with a tool is still a fool.”

This quote, often attributed to the computer scientist Grady Booch, applies just as well to standards and checklists as it does to software tools.

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