ISO 9001 Quality Management System – Lead Auditor Training Courses
In our current globalized economy and complex supply chains, John Ruskin’s adage, “Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort” is even more relevant today than it was on the day he said it. Organizations cannot rely on chance and hope to deliver quality products and services; instead, they must establish a consistent and planned approach for managing quality. With over one million certified organizations worldwide, ISO 9001 remains the world’s most well-known standard, which provides organizations with a structured approach for quality management and helps them consistently provide products and services that meet and, where possible, exceed customer requirements.
What is ISO 9001?
Published initially in 1987, ISO 9001 is the first international management system standard (MSS) that specifies the requirements for the establishment, implementation, operation, maintenance, and continual improvement of a quality management system (QMS) in an organization.
ISO 9001 is based on seven quality management principles and it aims to help organizations be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction. A common misconception is that ISO 9001 is intended for larger companies and manufacturers. However, the requirements of ISO 9001 are generic and applicable to any organization, regardless of its type, size, or the products or services it provides.
Although ISO 9001 was initially published in 1987, it has undergone several revisions in order to keep up with good practices and trends in the business world and ensure continuous suitability. The latest (5th) edition of the standard is titled ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems – Requirements. After running a survey with over 8,000 respondents, in May 2021, the ISO subcommittee for quality systems (ISO/TC 176/SC 2) confirmed that ISO 9001:2015 is still relevant and recommended that it remains unchanged.
Figure 1: ISO 9001 publication and revision timeline
ISO 9001 Lead Auditor
Why should you attend?
The PECB ISO 9001 Lead Auditor training course enables you to develop the necessary competence to perform quality management system (QMS) audits by applying widely recognized audit principles, procedures, and techniques. This training course combines the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1, the recommendations of ISO 19011, and other good practices of auditing and integrates them into a comprehensive methodology which enables you to successfully plan, conduct, and close ISO 9001 conformity assessment audits.
Apart from a theoretical basis, the training course also provides examples, exercises, and quizzes to help you practice the most important aspects of conformity assessment audits: interpretation of ISO 9001 requirements in the context of an audit, principles of auditing, application of audit methods, approaches to evidence collection and verification, leading an audit team, drafting nonconformity reports, and preparing the final audit report.
The successful completion of the training course is followed by an exam. If you successfully pass the exam, you can apply for the “PECB Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor” credential. An UKAS accredited and internationally recognized “PECB ISO 9001 Lead Auditor” certificate validates your professional capabilities and demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills to audit a QMS based on ISO 9001.
Who should attend?
The ISO 9001 Lead Auditor training course is intended for:
- Auditors seeking to perform and lead QMS audits in behalf of certification bodies
- Professionals wishing to adopt PECB’s AMS2 Methodology for conducting audits
- Individuals responsible for maintaining conformity to the requirements of ISO 9001
- Technical experts seeking to prepare for a QMS audit
- Professionals wanting to pursue a career in conformity assessment
Learning objectives
By the end of this training course, the participant will be able to:
- Explain the fundamental concepts and principles of a quality management system (QMS) based on ISO 9001
- Interpret the ISO 9001 requirements for a QMS from the perspective of an auditor
- Evaluate the QMS conformity to ISO 9001 requirements, in accordance with the fundamental audit concepts and principles
- Plan, conduct, and close an ISO 9001 compliance audit, in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1 requirements, ISO 19011 guidelines, and other best practices of auditing
- Manage an ISO 9001 audit program
Educational approach
This training course is participant centered and contains:
- Theories, approaches, and best practices used in ISO management system audits
- Lecture sessions illustrated with examples based on case studies
- Practical exercises based on a case study
- Interaction between participants by means of questions and suggestions
- Stand-alone and scenario-based quizzes, tailored to prepare the participants for the certification exam
Prerequisites
The main requirements for participating in this training course are a fundamental understanding of ISO 9001 requirements for a QMS and a comprehensive knowledge of audit principles.
Course Agenda
- Day 1: Introduction to the quality management system (QMS) and ISO 9001
Day 2: Audit principles and the preparation for and initiation of an audit
Day 3: On-site audit activities
Day 4: Closing of the audit
Day 5: Certification exam
Examination
- The “PECB Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor” exam fully meets the requirements of the PECB Examination and Certification Program (ECP). It covers the following competency domains:
Domain 1: Fundamental principles and concepts of a quality management system
Domain 2: Quality management system (QMS) requirements
Domain 3: Fundamental audit concepts and principles
Domain 4: Preparing an ISO 9001 audit
Domain 5: Conducting an ISO 9001 audit
Domain 6: Closing an ISO 9001 audit
Domain 7: Managing an ISO 9001 audit program
For specific information about exam type, languages available, and other details, please visit the List of PECB Exams and the Examination Rules and Policies.
Certification
- After successfully completing the exam, you can apply for one of the credentials shown on the table below. You will receive a certificate once you comply with all the requirements related to the selected credential.
For more information about the ISO 9001 certifications and the PECB certification process, please refer to the Certification Rules and Policies.
The requirements for PECB ISO 9001 Auditor certifications are as shown in the table below:
Credential Exam Professional experience MS audit/assessment experience Other requirements PECB Certified ISO 9001 Provisional Auditor PECB Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Exam or equivalent None None Signing the PECB Code of Ethics PECB Certified ISO 9001 Auditor PECB Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Exam or equivalent Two years: One year of work experience in Quality Management Audit activities: a total of 200 hours Signing the PECB Code of Ethics PECB Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor PECB Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Exam or equivalent Five years: Two years of work experience in Quality Management Audit activities: a total of 300 hours Signing the PECB Code of Ethics PECB Certified ISO 9001 Senior Lead Auditor PECB Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Exam or equivalent Ten years: Seven years of work experience in Quality Management Audit activities: a total of 1,000 hours Signing the PECB Code of Ethics Note: PECB certified individuals who possess both the Lead Implementer and Lead Auditor credentials are qualified for the respective PECB Master Credential, given they have taken 4 additional Foundation Exams related to this scheme. For more information about the Foundation Exams and the overall Master Requirements, please go to PECB Master Credentials.
To be considered valid, the audit activities should follow best audit practices and include the following:
- Planning an audit
- Managing an audit program
- Drafting audit reports
- Drafting nonconformity reports
- Drafting audit work documents
- Reviewing documented information
- Conducting on-site audit
- Following up on nonconformities
- Leading an audit team
General Information
- Certification and examination fees are included in the price of the training course
- PECB will provide training material of over 450 pages of information and practical examples.
- An attestation of course completion worth 31 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) credits will be issued to participants who have attended the training course.
- In case of exam failure, the candidate can retake the exam once for free within 12 months following the initial exam date.
For additional information, please contact us at info@globalskillsfactory.fi
