ISO 19011 Auditor Training
The ins and outs of running a business can sometimes provide organizational challenges from the executive level on down. The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) series establishes guidelines to assist your business in identifying, reviewing, and correcting critical procedural components. The Standard outlines document and record keeping processes as well as follow-up on issues identified for correction, and proposes regular reviews of the auditing procedures to promote long term efficiency within the business model.
Training to be an auditor is an integral part of the quality model. With consistent application of the Standard by qualified auditors, the return on efficiency can be rewarding.
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Determination to Audit
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If your company has made a determination to instantiate an auditing process, it's likely the employees will assist in the performance of the review itself. For auditors, there are two paths: to audit according to the standard without specific training, or to acquire the training certificate and become an official ISO 19011 auditor. In most cases the company makes this decision.
Formal vs Informal Training
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While the ISO standard does outline the principles of conducting an audit, there are numerous formal courses available for auditor training. If your company is serious about implementation of the ISO Standards, the formal route provides the most comprehensive information, assuring quality conduct and solid record keeping throughout. Businesses should weigh the desired results of formal certification against the value achieved by pursuing the informal route. Certification does not in any way guarantee quality products, but it does establish an annually monitored set of principles to measure against. Businesses that are interested in the strict outcome of the audit itself (and not the continual management of that audit process) may consider the informal route to provide more value.
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Courses
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For a comprehensive experiential course situation, formal training can be taken in a group environment or on an individual basis. Most courses are conducted in two business days. They can be taught either in the home office of the business (convenient for multiple auditor trainees), in rented office spaces or in the office location of the trainer. The cost of a standard one week course can ranges widely, depending upon if it's on site, a blend of online/on site, or some other variant. Most consulting companies who instruct the ISO standards coursework maintain flexibility in order to more easily reach interested businesses. For a specific quote, contact a Quality Management Systems consulting or instructional firm to insure accuracy.
Self Learning
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If the company goal is to audit for quality without being monitored by outside sources, or without the desire to maintain a strict level of formality throughout the process, many options exist for informal training. An online course, coupled with intensive reviews of the Standard itself will provide an excellent baseline skill set to move through most audits. The cost of online courses is also much more palatable for many organizations, ranging from $125 to $300. In addition to online coursework, many reference guides exist to assist with the informal auditing process.
Auditor Evaluation
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Evaluation of auditors is a significant part of the formal Standard. Even when a company chooses to tread the informal path, positive reinforcement of auditors and their processes can lead to big rewards for the business model. Over time a regularly critiqued audit team will begin to perform like a well oiled machine, communicating, logging, and resolving consistently and efficiently.
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