ABSTRACT
Assurance can take many forms from independent audits of particular areas, independent verification of data, through to internal audit activities sponsored by top management or reviews of supplier performance by contract managers. If correctly executed assurance should add a lot of value and help determine whether system is working and is properly implemented or identify improvement opportunities. One approach is to prepare an integrated programme to direct which areas of management system should be looked at using a range of assurance activities and approaches. Data collection is often a very difficult area to get right and many organisations do struggle. Gathering information and data is a complicated task and a constant challenge. Information and data are often held in numerous places, in a range of different formats, and by different teams that have their own priorities.
