Objectives and KPIs

Answer:

I assume that by “objectives” you mean quality objectives and that by KPI you mean Key Performance Indicator.

Since I do not have more information I will speculate upon the reasons that can support the auditor’s behavior. Normally, organizations develop quality objectives, stated challenges that imply a direction of improvement. Then they use indicators to monitor, measure performance and define a precise target to meet. Has your organization wrote any statements about each objective?

Please, see below the first article where you can read “These product or process objectives are often referred to as Key Performance Indicators (or KPIs). By utilizing the KPIs that the company has identified as the important indicators that the processes are functioning well the overall QMS objectives for improvement become much easier to measure.” I believe your auditor feel s those statements are missing. Quality objectives can be measured by KPIs but are more than KPIs.

The following materials will provide you details about quality objectives:

- ISO 9001 – How to Write Good Quality Objectives - https://advisera.com/9001academy/knowledgebase/how-to-write-good-quality-objectives/
- free online training ISO 9001:2015 Foundations Course – https://advisera.com/training/iso-9001-foundations-course/
- book - Discover ISO 9001:2015 Through Practical Examples - https://advisera.com/books/discover-iso-9001-2015-through-practical-examples/