Compliance audits
Structured approach to compliance auditing according to ISO 19011
Quality or compliance audits are used to verify whether an organization's processes comply with the requirements of a standard or regulatory framework. Whether conducted internally or externally, they are based on a process approach and follow the guidelines of ISO 19011 to ensure a structured, objective assessment that is useful for continuous improvement.
Reissued in 2018, ISO 19011 — Guidelines for auditing management systems — covers the principles of auditing, managing an audit program, conducting audits, and assessing the competence of those involved in the process.
It is intended for audit program managers, auditors, and audit teams, and applies to all organizations that need to plan and conduct internal or external audits of management systems.
Our various training courses offered on the subject
Quality audits: a lever for improving performance – 50 minutes
Quality audits are not just a compliance tool: they can become a real performance driver for your organization.
This webinar, lasting approximately 50 minutes, will show you how to transform your quality audits into strategic levers for continuous improvement, enabling you to maximize their added value as a manager, quality professional, or business leader.
Course Objective
Identify and exploit opportunities for improvement identified in quality audits to strengthen the organization's overall performance.
Target audience
This webinar is intended for managers, quality managers, internal auditors, consultants, SME executives, and anyone involved in managing or improving organizational processes.
Content Elements
- Introduction: Positioning quality auditing as a performance driver
- Types of audits and their strategic potential
- Prepare an improvement-oriented audit
- Analyze findings to generate value-added actions
- Conclusion: Integrating audits into a sustainable performance approach
Notes
- The webinar will include concrete examples and practical advice that can be applied immediately.
- A question-and-answer period is scheduled at the end to discuss your specific issues.
Internal process audit - 14 hours
Quality and environmental management systems have evolved rapidly around the world in recent years, and the process approach is increasingly well understood and implemented in organizations.In order to make a valuable contribution to process management and the performance of the quality and/or environmental management system, internal audits must enable the implementation of the process approach to be assessed, which is one of the central pillars of several ISO standards.To do this, auditors must assess the effectiveness of the processes they audit and their consistency with interrelated processes, rather than simply auditing compliance with planned provisions.
This two-day course aims to train new auditors and includes a practical component allowing participants to audit processes in their own company and/or use proven simulations and educational role-playing exercises.
Course Objective
Two-day course on internal auditing of an organization's processes or systems, with the aim of enabling participants to assess the effectiveness of a process in accordance with best practices and recognized standards, including those standardized in the recent revision of ISO 19011:2018 "Guidelines for auditing management systems."
Target audience
This course has been designed for the training of new internal auditors. It may also be useful for auditors who wish to refresh their knowledge, particularly in light of the new version of ISO 19011. The person responsible for defining, implementing, or managing the internal quality/environmental audit program may also benefit from this and communicate specific aspects of the company's system.
Content Elements
The training will cover the following topics, among others:
- Process and management system concepts
- Auditing principles
- PFVA process management (PDCA)
- Fundamentals of conducting audits
- Audit preparation
- Conducting the audit and communication techniques
- Audit practices in simulations and on real processes
- Structured audit conclusions
- Effective post-audit meetings
- Audit report and audit follow-up
Notes
This training, combined with appropriate academic or professional qualifications, prepares participants to conduct internal audits competently and effectively.
No prior academic qualifications are required, but knowledge or experience in management will facilitate the assimilation of concepts and techniques.
An exam may be offered to assess knowledge acquisition, with a certificate of merit.
Each participant receives a 14-hour certificate, even without taking the exam.
Internal process audit – Laboratory – 14 hours
This course focuses on the internal audit of laboratory processes within the framework of the laboratory or company quality system. It is based on ISO 19011:2018 and is aligned with our "Internal Process Audit" course, which is applicable to all sectors.
The content is tailored to the laboratory context, incorporating the competency-based approach of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (also relevant for the 2005 version).
The first day covers the stages of the audit, from preparation to follow-up on corrective actions, with workshops on interpersonal relationships.
The second day is devoted to conducting a complete audit of one of your laboratory's processes.
Course Objective
This two-day course aims to provide participants with the knowledge and techniques necessary to successfully conduct internal audits of the processes at the heart of a laboratory's quality management system, whether the reference standard is ISO/IEC 17025:2005 or ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
Target audience
This course has been designed for the training of new internal auditors.
It may also be useful to auditors who wish to refresh their knowledge, particularly considering the new edition of ISO 19011.
The person responsible for defining, implementing, or managing the internal quality audit program may also benefit from this and communicate specific aspects of the company's system.
Content Elements
You will prepare and conduct an audit in your company based on lists of questions prepared as a team during the session. You will lead a closing meeting in which you will present your audit findings to the managers of the audited department(s).
This course, when combined with the appropriate academic or professional qualifications, will enable you to perform internal audits effectively and competently.
The course covers the following topics, among others:
- Process-related concepts
- Fundamentals of conducting audits
- Audit preparation
- Use of information gathering grids
- Opening the audit
- Gathering information
- Psychology of auditing
- Effective post-audit meetings
- Audit report – writing
- Follow-up on corrective action
Notes
Certain knowledge promotes effective transfer of listening skills, including understanding:
- a quality system compliant with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 or 2017, or ISO 9001:2015,
- Process control;
- The laboratory environment
NB: Consult our other courses to develop these aspects as needed.
An exam may be offered to assess knowledge acquisition, with a certificate of merit.
A 14-hour certificate is issued to each participant, even without an exam.
External auditor – 21 hours
Adopted as a national standard in most countries, ISO 9001 is used by more than one million companies as the basis for their quality systems and plays a strategic role in supply chains.
It serves as the foundation for sector-specific QMS standards (automotive, aerospace, medical, laboratories, etc.).
Suppliers' QMS auditors contribute to their qualification and monitoring, either in addition to or in the absence of third-party certification.
Although focused on supplier auditing, the "External Auditor" course is also relevant for auditing remote or decentralized facilities, where the auditor faces challenges specific to external auditing (geography, language, culture) that are less prevalent in internal auditing.
Course Objective
This three-day course on QMS auditing reflects the requirements of ISO 19011:2018, applicable to all management systems (quality, environment, OHS, etc.).
Through an overview of ISO 9001:2015 and discussions on audit situations, it enables participants to learn the principles and techniques of external supplier auditing.
It emphasizes the process approach and the risk-based approach and also addresses the audit of undocumented processes to better understand the fundamental approach.
Target audience
This course is intended for future auditors who will be auditing or conducting supplier or third-party audits, as well as for supervisors of supplier QMSs, whether certified or not.
Although focused on ISO 9001, the skills acquired are transferable to any management system (ISO 14001, ISO 45001, AS9100, etc.).
It provides a solid foundation for new auditors, a useful refresher for experienced auditors, and an understanding of the role of lead auditor.
Those aiming to work for a registrar should check its specific requirements, beyond the course content.
Content Elements
To properly evaluate an organization's QMS, an external audit must be carefully planned and prepared. The auditor must master flexible and effective techniques, communication skills, rigorous documentation, and good follow-up—skills that are also useful to the audit program manager.
The course allows participants to rediscover the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 through the auditor's questions and the ISO principles of quality management.
It presents proven methods for evaluating a QMS, with practical workshops covering all stages: planning, implementation, and conclusions.
You will learn how to avoid common pitfalls and engage in in-depth discussions with an experienced instructor and other participants.
Combined with academic prerequisites and audit experience, this course prepares you to audit effectively and lead an audit team.
Main topics covered:
- ISO quality management principles
- Audit of ISO 9001 requirements (applicable to other standards)
- Interface between auditing and audit program management
- Inputs to audit activities
- Review of manuals and documentation
- Checklists
- Initiation and opening meeting
- Information gathering
- Psychology of auditing
- Audit conclusions
- Closing meeting
- Audit report
- Follow-up on corrective actions
Notes
A written exam is available at the end of the session. This exam covers ISO quality management principles, their application to ISO 9001:2015 or other relevant standards, and the requirements of ISO 19011:2018. It also covers verbal and written communication skills.
Internal process audit – IATF 16949 – 28 hours
IATF 16949 is the international benchmark for quality management systems in the automotive industry, aimed at continuous product improvement and vehicle buyer satisfaction on a global scale. It requires the implementation of an audit program covering the entire management system, manufacturing processes and products, carried out by competent and qualified auditors.
This four-day course will introduce you to the requirements of internal auditing according to IATF 16949, the process approach and the risk-based approach, so that you are able to assess the effectiveness and consistency of the audited processes, beyond just the compliance check. Intended for future IATF 16949 internal auditors, this training includes a complete practical part, based on realistic simulations and educational role-plays allowing participants to audit processes in their own organization.
Register to develop audit skills with high added value for the performance of your management system.
Course Objective
Following this training, the participant will be able to:
- Analyze the requirements of IATF 16949 and their interactions in order to understand their concrete application within a quality management system in the automotive sector.
- Plan, conduct and document internal process audits in accordance with IATF 16949, applying a process-based and risk-based approach, in accordance with ISO 19011 guidelines.
- Communicate effectively with interviewees and other stakeholders, by formulating factual, objective findings that are useful for improving the performance of the management system.
Target audience
This training is intended for professionals in the automotive sector and its supply chain (OEMs and suppliers) who are required to perform internal audits according to IATF 16949, as well as individuals wishing to develop or update their skills as an internal auditor.
It is also intended for quality managers and managers involved in the planning, implementation or management of the internal audit program within certified organizations or in the process of IATF 16949 compliance.
Content Elements
The first part of the training focuses on IATF 16949 and will cover the following aspects:
- Concepts and definitions
- Carrying out operational activities
- Support
- Performance evaluation and improvement
- Context and Planning
- Leadership
The second part of the training focuses on internal audits and will cover the following aspects:
- Reminder of the concepts and principles
- The basics of conducting audits
- Triggering and preparing for the audit
- Conducting the audit and communication techniques
- Audit report and audit follow-up
Notes
The course is offered in 4 days of 7 hours in the classroom or in 6 days of 5 hours in virtual format.
An exam may be offered, allowing the audit program manager, as well as the participants, to assess the acquisition of the knowledge taught. A certificate of acquisition of knowledge will be issued on merit.
Notwithstanding the exam, a certificate of 28 hours of training is issued to each participant.
Audit Program Management – 7 hours
This one-day course focuses on managing an organization's audit program. It complements our "Internal Process Audit" and "External Auditor" training courses.
Rather than a theoretical course, this is an interactive workshop based on the guidelines of ISO 19011:2018. The focus is on participation, team discussions, and analysis of practical cases.
Participants acquire the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively manage an audit program, whether internal or external.
Course Objective
Combined with the appropriate academic or professional qualifications, this course will enable participants to:
- move towards competent and efficient management of the audit program entrusted to them, and
- will enable auditors to better understand the links between audit program management and the performance of the audits planned in that program.
Target audience
The course is relevant for all organizations, regardless of the management system standards used.
Content Elements
The course is structured as follows:
- Concepts and principles
- Audit program management (facilitation focused on numerous questions and answers)
- Links between the audit management program and the performance of audits (facilitation focused on numerous exercises and practical case studies)
Notes
The course is relevant to the management system of organizations, regardless of the reference standard(s). The course therefore does not cover the specific requirements of standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 17025, or ISO 14011.
What if it wasn't exactly training you needed?
Beyond knowledge development, we also offer personalized support: assistance in obtaining your certification, maintenance of your management system with an experienced part-time resource, or strategic support to improve your processes.
Whatever your situation, we are here to help you move forward effectively.