The quality of an audit depends on the quality of its questions. Vague questions produce vague answers that are hard to score and impossible to compare. These principles help you write questions that work.
Make every question answerable with Yes or No
"Tell us about your maintenance process" invites a paragraph. "Are maintenance logs kept for the last 12 months?" gets a clear answer. Yes/No questions are faster for respondents, easier to score and comparable across audits.
Ask one thing per question
"Are guards fitted and emergency stops tested monthly?" combines two checks. If guards are fitted but stops are not tested, the respondent can't answer honestly. Split it into two questions.
Be specific about time and scope
Add a time frame ("in the last 12 months") and a scope ("for every production machine"). It removes ambiguity and makes the expected evidence obvious.
Ask for a reason
A reason turns a tick-box into information. When the answer is No, the reason tells you whether it's a real gap or a planned improvement. When the answer is Yes, the reason tells you how it's done.
Require evidence where it matters
You don't need evidence for every question. Require it where the risk is highest or where a false Yes would be costly: certificates, safety tests, financial controls and data protection.
Group questions into categories
Categories make audits easier to complete and let you score each area separately. A supplier can score well on quality and poorly on continuity, and you need to see both.
Examples
- Weak: "Do you take safety seriously?"
Better: "Has a fire drill been held in the last 6 months?" - Weak: "Describe your training."
Better: "Has role-specific training been completed in the last 12 months?" - Weak: "Are your finances in order?"
Better: "Are bank accounts reconciled monthly?"
Browse our audit templates for more examples written this way.