In ST, we use audits to ensure accurate and valuable information for strategic planning and other decision making . Our audit programs cover both ST operations as well as outsourced activities and suppliers. 

Within ST, internal audits are a powerful management tool for planning, managing and improving our operations. They are an essential step of the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle which is the base of continual improvement. 

Through management system audits, the completeness and effectiveness of the management system requirements are regularly assessed for compliance to International Standards such as ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS 18001, EMAS and technical specifications like ISO/TS 16949. Process audits provide an evaluation of the quality capability for specific product groups and their processes. 

A pool of internal auditors is appointed and maintained to ensure that auditors have appropriate specific knowledge, experience and background so that they are able to identify  the likelihood that a deviation in a particular process or activity could lead to  significant consequences for product quality as well as identify best practices. 

During 2009, company internal audits based on VDA 6.3 process audit guidelines have been introduced in ST. Further information about this program can be found in ST's 2009 Corporate Responsibility report .
 

Audits are also the basis for independent third party certification of ST's management systems. The Quality System operated by ST is certified as being in compliance with the International Standard ISO 9001:2008 and Technical Specification ISO/TS 16949:2009 for its design and manufacturing of semiconductor products and subsystems. ISO/TS certification  

ST earned its first company-wide ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949 certifications in 2003 and has since then successfully renewed them on schedule every three years.