Role of a Lead Auditor & Requirements to become an ISO 9001 Lead Auditor from jobinwason's blog

what's Lead Auditor? 

One of the foremost demanded IT security job roles in today’s global market. A lead auditor is that the one who is liable for leading the audit team during a company. He or she prepares the audit plan, delivers conferences and submits audit reports at the highest of quarter or year. Conducting audits is that the most responsibility of a lead auditor which must be done every day . during this article, we'll describe the role of a lead auditor, usually confining our views to ISO Lead Auditor Training. Let’s have a glance at the responsibilities that fall within the plate of a ISO Lead Auditor. The role of an auditor is completed generally in 3 sections – Planning phase, Audit phase, and Audit Reporting phase.

Planning Phase

As the term suggests, the design phase involves the creation of the plan for an audit. during this method, numerous needs for the audit plan are processed. the design section starts with the identification of the audit team members who are liable for coverage of the audit. the weather to be audited and every one the documents necessary for the plan should be identified. Besides identifying all the documents, the time-frame to finish the audit should be decided. Also, each member are going to be assigned to their a part of tasks and responsibilities. Members should ideally develop a private checklist to make sure an efficient process.

Audit Phase

The audit phase includes three stages – initiation, auditing, evaluation, and closure.

 Initiation: The initiation phase includes meetings and process initiation with auditors and audit team members. The lead auditor should conduct meetings with team members discussing the scope, purpose, and process of an audit team. along side this, the timeline to is evaluated; if the auditing are often completed within the time processes.

 Auditing: the particular audit is in situ during this phase. The plan and checklist are executed here. during this phase, it'll be evaluated if an implemented process is worthwhile or not. the target data must be collected, examined and documented. After every data is audited, the lead auditor examines if it's acceptable and wishes to be continued within the process.

 Evaluation: this is often the evaluating phase where the results are evaluated. The audit team will discuss the knowledge collected and tally with the plan. The results are documented with reviews and therefore the final corrective action request or change request is documented.

 Closure: this is often the closing phase where the lead auditor and members will discuss and formally close the audit process. During situations when corrective action plan couldn’t be provided thanks to lack of data are often suggests in such meetings.

Audit Report Phase

This is the first responsibility of a lead auditor. Information associated with the audit is documented and an audit report is made . Typically, an audit report covers the knowledge mentioned below.

 Company profile for audit

 Coverage of audit created within the planning phase

 Time frame defined to finish the audit

 Assignees with defined roles and responsibilities

 Documentation of compliance and non-compliance activities

 Audit results

 Correction action request

 Final observations of the audit

These are the phases that require to be led by a lead auditor. He or she must make sure that each member is delegated with their list of responsibilities and every of them is closing an equivalent . Also, a lead auditor should be ready to handle conflicts as auditing is usually susceptible to tons of conflicts. So, if you're getting to pursue a career as a lead auditor, you're clear about your roles and responsibilities together .

What are the wants to become an ISO 9001 Lead Auditor?

Experience

A lead auditor must have experience in applying ISO principles, procedures and techniques within the auditing of a 9001 quality management system. they could even have quality assurance certification during a particular industry, like aerospace or automobile manufacturing. there is no prescribed minimum number of years necessary before an auditor can become a lead auditor.

Certification

The next thing a candidate must become a lead auditor is to pass the Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training Auditor exam. The examination body is IRCA. The exam covers seven domains of competence, including principles of quality, QMS, auditing concepts, and therefore the preparation, conduct, management, and shutting of an ISO 9001 audit. Candidates are liable for their training; there's no mandatory training course for the exam. The exam is in essay form and must be completed in three hours.

Auditing Skills

The lead auditor will got to acquire an in-depth understanding of the organization, its management structure and the way they relate to the QMS. Additionally, the lead auditor will got to interview senior management at the start and shut of the audit, offer them feedback on their QMS and, because the ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group puts it, “seek proof of their commitment” to ISO standards.

Management Skills

Because the lead auditor manages a team of auditors, he must even have management and leadership skills he possesses to recollect of the variability of experience and skills among his team and divide the audit tasks consequently. for instance , junior auditors could be paired with an expert advisor among the team when performing on additional complicated tasks. The lead auditor are going to be liable for the performance management of his team. Also, he’ll get to manage the organization’s external ISO consultants if they're present throughout the QMS audit. The consultant is usually a 3rd party who advises the organization on the implementation and operation of the QMS. consistent with the ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group, the lead auditor should confirm that consultants don’t compromise the audit itself.

Visit : iso 9001 certification in egypt