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IRCA Change Their QMS Auditor Training Requirements

Excel are currently updating their IRCA certified Internal and Lead Auditor training courses to meet IRCA's new training course requirements to be implemented from 1st August 2013. The IRCA criteria now specify additional 'Prior Knowledge requirements' which candidates are expected to meet before attending the course.

A reasonable understanding of the applicable standard and the fundamentals of quality management is necessary to acquire a full understanding of the techniques and principles developed in the auditor courses and before attending Internal and Lead Auditor courses, IRCA recommends all delegates have the following prior knowledge:

Knowledge of the following quality management principles and concepts:

• The Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle.
• The benefits of using a quality management to help deliver customer satisfaction.
• Commonly used quality management terms and definitions and the 8 Quality Principles as given in ISO 9000.
• The process approach used in quality management.
• The Model of a Process Based Quality Management System and the structure and content of ISO 9001,ISO/TS 16949 or ISO/IEC 17025, depending on which standard is being studied.

Delegates can gain this knowledge by attending one of Excel’s applicable 1-day Introduction course for ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949 and ISO/IEC 17025 which includes the above prior knowledge requirements. Excel also provides its delegates with pre-course work which allows them a level of self assessment to check their current knowledge and understanding against these requirements.  Delegates are also offered the opportunity to discuss their experience level with the course tutor directly.

For more details about these additional IRCA requirements or to check the suitability of Internal or Lead auditor courses in relation to your experience level, please contact us.