Lead Auditor Course or Lead Implementer Course: Which one is better?
Conventional lead auditor training can be beneficial for many people; however, it will not always work for everyone. This applies both to those who want to manage their company’s management system or provide consultancy services for third parties.
Because of this, we usually recommend that our learners consider taking lead implementer courses instead. This can be a better idea in many cases due to the following reasons:
- Until recently, conventional lead auditor courses were the only option for those who wish to manage their organisation’s management system.
These courses primarily include information related to the management of audits in compliance with ISO 17021. This is the standard that certification bodies are required to follow. While this can contain valuable lessons for some professional auditors, this can be of little use to the APM. These include those working as Audit Programme Managers (APM).
The Audit Programme Manager is responsible for managing the quality system’s internal (and external) auditing requirements. The activities here include:
- Process flow – analyzing the organization’s processes and audit history to establish an effective Audit Schedule
- Audit Programme content – both vertical and horizontal audit activities
- Types of Audit Programme – external (suppliers) and as well as internal
- Audit Programme Procedures – allocating responsibility for all six stages of the audit cycle
- Establishing the audit programme
- Implementing the audit programme
- Audit programme monitoring
- Reviewing and improving audit programmes
These activities are outside the scope of a Lead Auditor Course where the focus is on training auditors to work with Certification Auditors (and ISO Guidance Documents rarely get a mention). Such bodies have their own auditing programmes and procedures (documented and approved as part of their accreditation), so this area is excluded from Lead Auditor Courses.
What about the needs of the Management Representative? Tough!
2. The problem of implementing and maintaining a QMS
Let’s focus on ISO 9001:2015.
No two quality management systems are the same, more so now that ISO 9001:2015 doesn’t even include any mandatory documented procedures.
A Quality System’s structure, content, implementation, and maintenance to meet ISO 9001:2015 requirements is beyond what a Lead Auditor Course could reasonably expect.
The typical implementation of a QMS is undertaken in three phases:
- Phase A. Initiating (dealing with Parts 4 & 5 of the Standard)
- Phase B. Planning (dealing with Part 6)
- Phase C. Implementation (dealing with Parts 7, 8, 9 & 10)
Maintenance of the system involves a periodic review and audit of the three Phases of the system (incorporated into the mandatory internal audits and the management review activity).
3. Because of the five-day time limit on lead auditor courses, learners have relatively limited time to study.
As a result, important topics like conflict resolution related to planning and closing out of internal audits may not receive enough emphasis. If you are an Audit Programme Manager, this is something that will fall under your responsibilities & Auditor
Why Take an ISO Lead Implementer Course?
Taking a lead implementer course can offer an advantage over taking traditional lead auditor courses. Mostly, this lies in its ability to allow learners to focus on what exactly they need to know.
By allowing this, they can make the most of both their money and their time. This is especially true for those aiming to become Audit Programme Managers.
What Makes Lead Implementer Courses a Great Option?
Lead Implementer courses are a new grade of auditor training intended for those who are or wish to be, Management System Consultants or Management Representatives, and typically Quality Managers and EHS Managers, whose responsibility it is to manage all day-to-day aspects of their organization’s management systems. But, who do not need to plan and organize and deliver certification audits.
Internal Auditor Courses focus on the auditing activity directly – document review, checklist preparation, and on-site auditing activity – and often don’t mentioning audit management requirements.
On the other hand, Lead Auditor Courses have much information not needed by the person responsible for an organization’s management systems, such as formal opening and closing meetings, managing the Audit Team, dealing with difficult consultants, and the detailed content of Certification Body Audit Reports, etc.
What’s needed is something in between and the perfect balance is provided by our Lead Implementer-Auditor Courses.
These Courses place emphasis on:
- Audit planning, including full cycles of audits based on the status and importance of the processes and areas to be audited, as well as the results of previous audits,
- Audit scheduling, supplier audits as well as internal audits,
- Auditor training and competence,
- Overseeing and verifying corrective actions,
- Overseeing and verifying improvement actions, and
- Maintaining audit records.
And this is in addition to Auditing Skills to the requirements of ISO 19011, Guidelines for auditing management systems, knowledge of the ISO Management System Standard itself, and practice in applying the knowledge and skills learned with lots of practice Scenarios.
These Courses are tailor-made to the needs of Management Representatives, EHS Managers, and others responsible for implementing and maintaining their organization’s , management systems.
Of lesser duration than lead auditor courses, the costs are lower too.
Do You Offer a Free Trial Lesson?
We know how important it is to get a feel of what you’re going to buy before you purchase anything.
If you’re interested in our lead implementer courses but want to get an idea of what they have to offer, check out our 5-minute and 30-minute free trial lessons. They will give you a quick overview of how we conduct our online training.
I have a question. Who Should I Contact?
No time to watch a video but want to get a quick overview of how our training program works? Check out our directory of frequently asked questions.
There you can find answers to questions typically raised by our existing customers and interested learners including questions about registration, enrollment, payment, using our learning management system, taking examinations, and printing certificates.
It also contains some basic troubleshooting tips should you encounter any issues while trying to pay for an ISO course or open a module.
