IRCA QMS AUDITOR/LEAD AUDITOR COURSE

This course is accredited by IRCA under SEQM Ltd, UK (A17118). It satisfies part of the formal training requirements for individuals seeking registration under the IRCA QMS Auditor Registration Scheme.

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• The Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle.
• The relationship between quality management and customer satisfaction.
• Commonly used quality management terms and definitions and the 8 Quality Principles as given in ISO 9000.
• The process approach used in quality management.
• The Model of a Process Based Quality Management System, the structure and content of ISO 9001.

ATTENDANCE:

• attendance for the full duration of the course is mandatory. Repetitive poor time keeping will result in failure of the course.

Use of Mobile Phones, Pagers etc: please switch these devices off during the course. Their use is not permitted during any element of the course.

Note Taking: delegates are encouraged to supplement the course manual materials with their own notes.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The aim of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to perform first, second and third-party audits of quality management systems against ISO 9001, in accordance with ISO 19011 and ISO 17021, as applicable.

The seven learning objectives describe in outline what delegates shall be able to do by the end of the course. Delegates will need to demonstrate acceptable performance in all of these areas in order to complete the course successfully. The objectives are as follows:

1.   Describe the purpose of a quality management system and explain the 8 principles of quality management.
2.   Explain the purpose, content and interrelationship of ISO 9000, ISO 9001, ISO 9004 and ISO 19011.
3.   Interpret the requirements of ISO 9001 in the context of the audit.
4.   Describe the roles and responsibilities of auditors and lead auditors.
5.   Plan and conduct and audit in accordance with ISO 19011, demonstrating ability to:
a)   plan and prepare effectively
b)   gather objective evidence, through effective interviewing, observation, sampling and note taking
c)   analyse and interpret information in order to determine conformance with requirements.
6.   Report the audit, including writing valid, factual and value-adding non-conformity reports.
7.  Undertake audit follow-up activities, including evaluating the effectiveness of corrective action

ASSESSMENT

Continual Assessment

• Delegates will be assessed throughout the course against the learning objectives.
• Participation in, contribution to and involvement in exercises will be assessed.
• Delegates' overall attitude towards the course as well as attendance and punctuality will also be assessed and contribute to the mark awarded.

On successful completion of the course the delegate will receive a “Certificate of Successful Completion” which will be valid for 3 years from the end of the course, for the purposes of registering with IRCA.

“Certificates of Attendance” will be issued to delegates who have not been successful in the continual assessment but who have satisfied the attendance requirements. These certificates shall not be accepted by IRCA.

Examination

Delegates will be examined on Day 5 of the course. The examination is ‘closed book’ however delegates are able to refer to the relevant standard. A total of 2 hours will be available for the examination. There are 4 sections to the exam.  The pass mark is 70% and delegates must achieve at least 50% in each section.

COURSE FORMAT

• Course Programme.
• Each day is divided into four sessions, two before lunch and two after lunch. 
• The first session precedes the mid-morning break and the second follows the mid morning break.
• The afternoon sessions are similarly divided.
• Folders are divided into sections, one section per module. 
• All overheads and material given during the course will be provided in your folder. 
• The overheads are presented on the left-hand side of the page and a commentary, where appropriate, is provided on the right hand side of the page. 
• You will need to allow sufficient time to read and understand the notes, which have been provided.

COURSE STYLE

All sessions are interactive and delegate participation is encouraged.  Delivery will include presentation by lecture, overhead and slide projection.  There are numerous exercises and each activity is assessed as part of the overall candidature evaluation.

A model factory will be used and, wherever possible, practical illustrations will be given.  All course presenters have experience of QMS design and implementation, and some have experience of QMS certification and assessment.

A A live audit in a host organisation (or an audit role play) will take place on day 4 so as the delegates may demonstrate the skills learned and developed during the course.

COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS

All delegates have the right to make a complaint or an appeal.  Written details of this process shall be provided upon request.

QMS STANDARDS

Copies of ISO 9000:2008 series will be available for reference during the course.

THE ROLE OF THE IRCA REGISTRATION SCHEME

IRCA provide a Quality Management Systems Auditor Certification Scheme (the QMS Scheme) to provide confidence to accredited certification bodies and to business and industry that auditors certified to this scheme are competent.

The scheme is intended for:

• Quality auditors, e.g. those employed by third party certification bodies / registrars, or by purchasing organizations
• Quality practitioners, e.g. quality consultants, quality managers and other quality personnel.
• Employees conducting quality management system audits within their own organization i.e. internal standards

The QMS 2008 Scheme has six grades of certification:

• QMS 2008 Provisional Internal Auditor
• QMS 2008 Internal Auditor
• QMS 2008 Provisional Auditor
• QMS 2008 Auditor
• QMS 2008 Lead Auditor
• QMS 2008 Principal Auditor

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AUDITOR REGISTRATION

Criteria for certification is based on four elements:

A          Education
B.         Work experience
C          Auditor Training
D          Auditing Experience

For information concerning the process for certification with IRCA as a Lead Auditor, visit the IRCA website at  http://www.irca.org  and see the document entitled "Certification as a Quality Management Systems (QMS) Auditor” (IRCA/602/09/1; Issued  June 2009).

CERTIFICATION
SEQM/IRCA-QMS AUDITOR/LEAD AUDITOR COURSE

DURATION : 5 days