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What type of audit would be used to prove that a company quality program meets ISO 9000 standards?
Internal
External
Third-party
Team
The correct answer is: Third-party
The correct answer is the option that refers to third-party audits. A third-party audit is an assessment conducted by an independent organization that is not affiliated with the company being audited. This is critical for verifying compliance with ISO 9000 standards, which require an unbiased review of the quality management system in place. ISO 9000 is an internationally recognized set of standards that focuses on quality management. Companies often seek certification to ensure that their processes meet certain quality criteria and to demonstrate that they can consistently provide products or services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. A third-party audit provides an objective evaluation of the company's quality program and confirms that it adheres to the established ISO standards. While internal audits also play a significant role in assessing compliance and identifying areas for improvement, they are performed by employees of the organization. Although valuable for ongoing quality control and preparedness for formal audits, they do not provide the impartial verification required for ISO certification. External audits, similar to internal ones, might be conducted by outside consultants but could lack the rigorous standards and recognition associated with true third-party evaluations. Team audits would typically involve internal staff working together and do not suffice for independent verification necessary for ISO 9000 compliance.