Quality audits are considered an important tool in the quality management knowledge area. Which of the 4 statements best describes the impact a quality audit is most likely to have on the cost of quality?

A. Quality audits should result in an increased cost of quality as the performing organization makes an investment in either internal or external resources to conduct the audits.

B. Quality audits have nothing to do with the cost of quality, which is directly tied to product failure.

C. Quality audits should result in a reduced cost of quality and an increase in customer acceptance of the product of the project.

D. Quality audits should result in a reduced cost of quality but have no direct correlation with customer acceptance of the product of the project.