ISO/IEC 17021 demands that the competence for each technical area and
for each function of the certification activity should be defined ,The
competence must be assessed using documented processes and include a formal authorisation.
Appointing auditors, experts, reviewers and certifiers based on proof of
qualification (education, professional and industry experience, MS knowledge, and
training)
The appointment system of the
certification body must be supplemented by competence criteria, i.e. knowledge
and skills in methodological, organisational and technical areas in accordance
with ISO/IEC 17021
It is the responsibility of the certification body to determine the
competence criteria for each type of management system, each technical area and
each function in the certification process, and to document the required
knowledge and skills. The criteria must be defined in a manner that is
comprehensible and verifiable.
Auditors may be appointed for a maximum of three years, after which time
this must be renewed.
The certification body must provide evidence of the appointment and
classification of auditors analogous to the rules for archiving certification documents.
Knowledge and Skills required for Auditors and Certification Personnel
Knowledge of business management
Practices
2 Knowledge of audit principles,
practices
and techniques
3 Knowledge of specific management
system standards/normative documents
4 Knowledge of certification body’s
Processes
5 Knowledge of client’s business
sector
6 Knowledge of client products,
processes
and organization
7 Language skills appropriate to all
levels within the client organization
8 Note-taking and report-writing
skills
9 Presentation skills
10 Interviewing skills
11
Audit-management skills
Criteria and
requirements for QMS auditors
Training and experience : Secondary vocational education and 5
years of professional experience; or tertiary vocational training and 4 years
of professional experience - of which at least 2 years in quality
management/quality assurance.
Auditor training: QMS auditor training
(min. 40 lessons, of which 16 lessons on auditing techniques and 24 lessons on
DIN EN ISO 9001 with the requirements of the standard). If comparable (in terms
of hours and content) auditor training for a different management system can be
demonstrated, training with 24 lessons on standard DIN EN ISO 9001 suffices.
Auditor experience: Trainee
participation in at least four audits of min. 20 days, of which 11 days on
site; one audit of which under supervision and review of an experienced audit
manager. If QMS is a secondary (additional) certification area, at least three
audits of min. 15 days, of which at least eight audit days are on site, will
suffice.
Lead auditor: Participation in at least three audits in the role of
active lead auditor at (certification, reassessment or surveillance audit) with
at least 15 days, of which eight on site under the supervision of an
experienced lead auditor; one of these audits must include a full assessment by
a lead auditor. The qualification as lead auditor is independent of the
certification standard.
Continuity of
appointment: Participation in two audits during
the appointment period (max.Continuity of appointment three years) and Participation in an exchange of experience
within 12 months (max. three months tolerance by the key date) and Performance of one monitoring audit within 36
months.
Exchange of knowledge: Audits and information
exchanges of other accredited certifiers may be recognised to upkeep the
appointment. However, at least one participation in an exchange of knowledge
with the appointing certification body must be demonstrated within the
appointment period of three years.
Competence for a
technical area: For the first technical area (basic skill), two years of professional
experience (full-time) must be demonstrated. This area must also be covered by
the vocational training.
Competence for
further technical areas within a business segment: Prerequisites for
each additional technical field within a business segment: Participation in ten audits in the technical
field or one year of practical
experience in developing, manufacturing and/or testing products, production
facilities in the technical field or as an external advisor with these tasks or proof of approval as an evaluator or
advisor in the technical field and
determination / proof of competence based on an expert discussion or
observation of an audit execution (monitoring) by a specialist or specialist
auditor of the certification body. This determination does not apply to
sensitive business / technical fields. Competence in an additional business
segment Supplementary training or
education or practice and additional professional experience of at least two
years in conjunction with at least five audits in one or more technical fields
in each business segment or Additional
training with a state-recognized degree and at least one year of professional
experience and two audits in one or more technical fields of the relevant
business segment. This determination does not apply to sensitive business /
technical field
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