What is the main purpose of conducting an audit in quality control?

The main purpose of conducting an audit in quality control is to evaluate compliance with quality standards. This process involves systematically reviewing and assessing the procedures, processes, and outputs to ensure they meet the established criteria for quality. Audits help identify areas where quality might not meet expectations, allowing organizations to take corrective actions to enhance their processes and products. This ensures that the end result aligns with both regulatory requirements and customer satisfaction.

While increasing the project budget, finalizing project specifications, and modifying engineering designs may be related to certain processes within a project, they do not accurately capture the primary focus of what an audit seeks to accomplish in the context of quality control. The audit’s core function is to ensure adherence to defined quality standards, making it a critical tool for maintaining high quality throughout a project's lifecycle.