What is one of the key objectives of conducting an audit according to ISO 19011?

Theprimary objective of an audit, as defined inISO 19011:2018 – Clause 5.1, is toevaluate the extent to which the management system conforms to planned arrangements and is effectively implemented and maintained.

Audits arenot meant to issue certificates or impose penalties— they aretools for continual improvement, helping organizations assess theperformance and effectivenessof their systems.

This aligns with the purpose of internal audits described inISO/IEC 42001:2023 – Clause 9.2, which is to verify theeffectiveness of the AIMS (Artificial Intelligence Management System).