Step 1: Find the Total Number of Employees
Before we can calculate interviews, you need to know how many employees the company has.
Go to the Site Sampling section in AuditSoft.
Add the number of sites and the number of workers in each role (for example: managers, supervisors, workers) at each site.
In this example, the total number of employees is 87.
Step 2: Identify the Sites That Will Be Visited
Next, find out how many employees are at the sites that will actually be visited during the audit.
In the Site Sampling section, check the Interview box for the sites where interviews will take place.
The system will then calculate the number of employees at those sites.
In this example, there are five total sites, but only three will be visited.
That means there are 29 employees at the visited sites.
Step 3: Use the Interview Sampling Chart
Most Certifying Partners (CPs) or Certification Bodies provide an interview sampling chart like the one below. This chart shows how many interviews are needed based on the total number of employees.
Find the total number of employees on the X-axis and look up the minimum number of interviews on the Y-axis.
In this example:
Total employees = 87
Minimum required interviews = 21
Step 4: Calculate the Interview Percentage
Next, figure out what percentage of employees at the visited sites must be interviewed.
This means you need to interview about 72.4% of the employees at each visited site.
Step 5: Apply the Percentage by Role
Now apply that same percentage to each role (for example: managers, supervisors, workers) at each visited site.
If your calculation gives you a fraction (for example, 1.7 employees), always round up to the next whole number.
This rounding means your recommended number of interviews will often be slightly higher than the minimum required.
In the example below, applying 72.4% across all roles at the visited sites results in 27 recommended interviews, which is higher than the minimum of 21. The Interview Planning section of AuditSoft will be updated with the recommended interviews.
Tip: Always round up to ensure you meet or exceed the required number of interviews. If you’re unsure which sampling chart to use, check with your Certifying Partner or Certification Body.