Gap Analysis
What is a Gap Analysis?
A Gap Analysis is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate your current situation, define your desired outcome, and identify the steps necessary to bridge the gap between the two. It’s particularly useful in the context of Management System implementation or transition.
One of the first steps in the process of transitioning or implementing a Management System is to compare your current system to the requirements of the relevant standard. This comparison, commonly referred to as a Gap Analysis or Pre-Audit, helps you assess your current status against the specific requirements outlined in the standard.
The primary purpose of a Gap Analysis is to identify areas where your current system falls short of the standard's requirements. Each standard has specific clauses that must be met for certification. If your system doesn’t meet these requirements, the gaps must be addressed to achieve successful certification.
This analysis is also valuable when transitioning to a new version of a standard or migrating to a new standard, such as ISO 45001:2018. It provides a clear picture of your current compliance level and what needs to be done to successfully migrate.
Common Questions About Gap Analysis
Organizations often have several questions when starting their certification journey:
How long will it take to achieve certification?
How challenging is the process?
What does it involve?
What will it cost?
The answers to these questions vary because each organization is unique. Factors such as industry, size, complexity, and risks all influence the certification process.
Organizations need to know their starting point and end goal. While they may understand where they are and what they want to achieve, a detailed plan of action is essential. A Gap Analysis identifies deficiencies and enables the creation of an effective action plan to achieve certification. It also helps in planning resources and setting realistic timeframes.
How IPC Can Help
IPC can conduct a Gap Analysis to identify areas of weakness before the formal assessment. IPC auditors perform a Gap Analysis audit, comparing your existing Management System against the standard's requirements.
What’s Involved in a Gap Analysis?
During a Gap Analysis, the Assessor will:
Evaluate your management system’s compliance with the relevant standard.
Document areas of compliance and non-compliance.
Discuss necessary considerations for your project plan and agree on corrective actions.
A comprehensive report will be provided, detailing:
The areas where your organization currently conforms to the standard.
The areas where your organization does not conform.
A foundation for a project plan to address identified gaps.
This report will enable your organization to develop a plan to address these gaps in preparation for the mandatory initial audits required for certification.
