Quality audits are primarily used to assess what?

Quality audits are primarily utilized to evaluate adherence to established standards and procedures within an organization. This process involves systematically examining various elements of a quality management system to ensure that they align with both internal and external requirements. The aim is to identify areas where the processes meet the predefined criteria and to highlight any gaps or areas for improvement.

By focusing on compliance with standards, quality audits help organizations maintain consistency in their products or services, thus ensuring that they meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements. This ongoing assessment plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of continuous improvement, as it allows organizations to pinpoint inefficiencies and implement corrective actions.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the primary goal of quality audits. Employee satisfaction focuses on the well-being and engagement of staff rather than the processes themselves. Market trends pertain to external factors and consumer behavior, which are outside the scope of a quality audit. Supplier performance is relevant for evaluating external partners, but quality audits specifically concentrate on the internal systems and processes to assess compliance and effectiveness.