“Audit evidence: records, statements of fact or other information which are relevant to the audit criteria and verifiable.”ISO · ISO 19011:2018 — Guidelines for auditing management systems · 2018 · ISO 19011:2018, clauza 3.8 — definiția dovezii de audit (platforma de consultare ISO e randată în JavaScript și a răspuns 403 la verificare)
A major nonconformity is closed with a root cause and a demonstrated corrective action, not with a correction.
Findings come on four rungs. An opportunity for improvement is not a departure, it is a suggestion. An observation flags something that still meets the requirement but is heading the wrong way. A minor nonconformity is an isolated lapse against a requirement. A major nonconformity is something else: the complete absence of a requirement, a systemic breakdown, or a failure that casts doubt on the system's ability to achieve its outcomes. The difference is not one of tone but of consequence — an open major blocks the certification decision. The response has four parts, in this order: the correction, meaning the repair of the case found; root-cause analysis; the corrective action, which changes the process so the situation cannot recur; and a committed deadline. Whoever sends only the correction gets the finding back. Every finding rests on objective evidence — a record, a statement of fact or other relevant and verifiable information — not on the auditor's impression.
Why it matters Confusing minor with major costs weeks: a major is not closed with an excuse but with a demonstrated change of process.