====== What is "Audit Duration" vs. "Audit Time" ======

[[https://iaf.nu/en/iaf-documents/?cat_id=7|IAF MD 5:2019, "Determination of Audit Time of Quality, Environmental, and Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems"]] (Issue 4, Version 2), Sec. 1, "Definitions", states:  
<blockquote>**1.7. Duration of Management System Certification Audit**s \\ 
//Part of audit time (1.6) spent conducting audit activities from the opening meeting to the closing meeting, inclusive. \\ 

Note: Audit activities normally include: \\ 
  • conducting the opening meeting \\ 
  • performing document review while conducting the audit \\ 
  • communicating during the audit \\ 
  • assigning roles and responsibilities of guides and observers \\ 
  • collecting and verifying information \\ 
  • generating audit findings \\ 
  • preparing audit conclusions \\ 
  • conducting the closing meeting//
</blockquote>

<WRAP center round info 80%>
While not referenced as its source, the above definition matches that provided in [[https://www.iso.org/obp/ui#iso:std:iso-iec:17021:-1:ed-1:v1:en:term:3.17|ISO 17021-1, sec. 3.17]].
</WRAP>


And for "Audit Time", [[https://iaf.nu/en/iaf-documents/?cat_id=7|IAF MD 5:2019]] simply duplicates the definition provided in ISO 17021-1, "Conformity assessment − Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems − Part 1: Requirements" stating:
<blockquote>**1.6. Audit Time** \\
Time needed to plan and accomplish a complete and effective audit of the client organization’s management system ([[https://www.iso.org/obp/ui#iso:std:iso-iec:17021:-1:ed-1:v1:en:term:3.16|ISO/IEC 17021-1, sec. 3.16]]).</blockquote>

At first glance, "Audit Duration" may appear to be the same as "Audit Time". However, [[https://iaf.nu/en/iaf-documents/?cat_id=7|IAF MD 5:2019]], sec. 2, "Application" clarifies this difference, stating:

<blockquote>
**2.1. Audit Time** \\ 
2.1.1. The audit time for all types of audits includes the total time on-site at a client's location (physical or virtual) (1.7) __and__ //time spent off-site carrying out planning, document review, interacting with client personnel and report writing.//
</blockquote>

In other words... the "Audit Duration" is a //portion// of the total "Audit Time".
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