ISO-9001-Lead-Auditor Exam Dumps - QMS ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor Exam

•To evaluate the preparedness of the organisation for a Stage 2 audit: This objective involves assessing the readiness of the organisation to undergo the Stage 2 audit, where the conformity and effectiveness of the quality management system will be verified123. The audit team will check the level of implementation and understanding of the quality management system, identify any major gaps or nonconformities, and confirm the audit scope, criteria, and plan123.

•To review the quality manual: This objective involves reviewing the documented information of the quality management system, such as the quality policy, the quality objectives, the scope, the processes, and the procedures, to ensure that they meet the requirements of ISO 9001:2015123. The audit team will also evaluate the organisation’s understanding and application of the standard, and identify any areas of improvement or concern123.

The other options are not included in the objectives of the Stage 1 initial certification audit, according to the web search results from my internal tool. They may be related to other stages or types of audits, but they are not the focus of the Stage 1 audit.

Therefore, the correct answer is B and D.

References: 1: ISO 9001 Certification Audits | Stage 1 and Stage 2 - 9001. Simplified 2: Stage 1 of your Audit | NQA Blog 3: Getting Certified to ISO 9001 - the Stage 1 Audit

According to clause 8.3 of ISO 9001:2015, the organization should establish, implement, and maintain a design and development process that is appropriate to ensure the subsequent provision of products and services. The design and development process should include the following activities:

•Determining the requirements for the products and services to be designed and developed, considering the intended use, the statutory and regulatory requirements, the customer and other relevant interested parties’ needs and expectations, and the potential risks and opportunities.

•Defining the design and development objectives, stages, responsibilities, and authorities, and ensuring the availability of adequate resources and competence.

•Implementing design and development controls, such as reviews, verification, and validation, to ensure that the design and development outputs meet the design and development inputs, and to identify and resolve any problems or errors.

•Maintaining documented information on the design and development inputs, outputs, reviews, verification, validation, and changes, and ensuring the traceability and conformity of the products and services to the requirements.

•Managing the design and development changes, by identifying, reviewing, and controlling them, and evaluating their effects on the products and services and the QMS.

In this case, the evidence statements that provide a meaningful audit trail for the design and development process are B, E, and F, because they relate to the design and development controls, the documented information, and the verification activities that are required by the standard. These options can help the auditor to assess the effectiveness and conformity of the design and development process, and to identify any nonconformities or opportunities for improvement. The other options are not directly related to clause 8.3, although they may be relevant for other aspects of the QMS, such as clause 7.2 on competence, clause 7.3 on awareness, clause 7.4 on communication, clause 8.2 on requirements for products and services, clause 8.4 on externally provided processes, products, and services, and clause 8.7 on control of nonconforming outputs. References: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group Guidance on Design and Development, ISO 9001 Clause 8.3 Design and development of products and services

•

Reviews the client’s management system documented information: This activity involves checking the documentation of the quality management system, such as the quality policy, the quality objectives, the scope, the processes, and the procedures, to ensure that they meet the requirements of ISO 9001:2015123. The audit team also evaluates the client’s understanding and implementation of the standard, and identifies any gaps or nonconformities that need to be addressed before the Stage 2 audit123.

•Reviews the processes with high level of risk: This activity involves assessing the processes that have a significant impact on the quality of the products or services, or that pose a high risk of nonconformity or customer dissatisfaction123. The audit team also verifies the client’s risk management approach, and evaluates the effectiveness of the controls and actions taken to mitigate the risks123.

The other options are not statements that are true for the Stage 1 audit, according to the web search results from my internal tool. They may be related to other stages or types of audits, but they are not the focus of the Stage 1 audit.

Therefore, the correct answer is D and G.

References: 1: ISO 9001 Certification Audits | Stage 1 and Stage 2 - 9001. Simplified 2: Stage 1 of your Audit | NQA Blog 3: Getting Certified to ISO 9001 - the Stage 1 Audit

According to ISO 19011:2018, clause 6.7, the audit follow-up is the process of verifying the completion and effectiveness of corrective actions taken by the auditee as a result of an audit. The audit follow-up can include two main activities:

• Verifying the effectiveness of the implemented corrective actions: this means checking whether the actions taken by the auditee have addressed the root causes of the nonconformities and prevented their recurrence or occurrence in other areas. The verification can be done by reviewing documents, records, data, or other evidence provided by the auditee, or by conducting a follow-up audit on site or remotely.
• Verifying corrections taken to fix the reported non-conformities: this means checking whether the auditee has corrected the nonconformities identified during the audit and eliminated their immediate effects. The verification can be done by reviewing documents, records, data, or other evidence provided by the auditee, or by conducting a follow-up audit on site or remotely.

The audit follow-up can be conducted as a separate audit or as part of a subsequent audit, depending on the audit programme, the audit objectives, the audit criteria, the audit scope, the audit risks, and the audit findings. The audit follow-up should be planned and conducted in accordance with the same principles and processes as the initial audit, and the results should be documented and reported accordingly. References:

• ISO 19011:2018(en), Guidelines for auditing management systems, clause 6.7
• ISO 19011 Management Systems Audit Checklist | Process Street, task 6.7.1 and 6.7.2
• Conducting the Audit Follow-Up: When to Verify - The Auditor, section “Conducting the audit follow-up”

The table below shows the possible matching of the ISO 9001 Clause 8 extract to the audit evidence.

Table

Audit evidence

ISO 9001 Clause 8 extract

Four of the 10 pallets of stock sampled in the warehouse were not labelled.

“8.5.2 … shall use suitable means to identify outputs …”

A damaged pallet of stock seen in the quarantine area was leaking liquid onto the floor.

“8.7.1 … shall ensure that outputs that do not conform to their requirements are identified and controlled …”

One of the fork-lift truck drivers had no fork-lift truck driving licence.

“8.5.1 e … shall include, as applicable … the appointment of competent persons …”

There was no pest control provision in the warehouse.

“8.5.4 … shall preserve the outputs during production and service provision …”

Two pallets of temperature-sensitive stock items were being stored at ambient as the chilled storage facility was full.

“8.1 … shall plan, implement and control the processes …”

The key expected results of a quality management system that conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 are stated in clause 0.1 of the standard, which says: “The adoption of a quality management system is a strategic decision for an organization that can help to improve its overall performance and provide a sound basis for sustainable development initiatives. The potential benefits to an organization of implementing a quality management system based on this International Standard are: a) the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements; b) facilitating opportunities to enhance customer satisfaction; c) addressing risks and opportunities associated with its context and objectives; d) the ability to demonstrate conformity to specified quality management system requirements.” Therefore, the two options that best match these benefits are A and E, as they directly relate to providing products and services that meet customer requirements and enhancing customer satisfaction. The other options are not explicitly mentioned as key expected results, although they may be possible outcomes of implementing a quality management system. References: ISO 9001:2015 - Quality management systems — Requirements, Key Elements of an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, What is ISO 9001 2015 as a Quality Management Systems?

The audit team leader should deal with this situation in a professional and ethical manner, while maintaining the integrity and credibility of the audit process and the audit findings. The audit team leader should also try to resolve the conflict with the Quality Manager in a constructive and respectful way, without compromising the audit objectives or the audit team’s independence and impartiality. According to the ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Reference Materials guides and documents, the possible actions that the audit team leader might take are:

•A. Insist that the nonconformities must stand since they have been agreed by the team from other evidence gathered. This action is consistent with the principle of evidence-based approach, which states that the audit team should collect and verify information that is appropriate, sufficient, and reliable to support the audit findings and conclusions. The audit team leader should explain to the Quality Manager that the nonconformities are not based solely on the photographs, but on other audit evidence that corroborates them. The audit team leader should also remind the Quality Manager that the nonconformities are subject to review and approval by the certification body, and that any attempt to influence or interfere with the audit results would be considered a breach of the audit agreement and the certification rules.

•D. State that the auditor will take no further part in the audit and all his photographs will be deleted. This action is consistent with the principle of confidentiality, which states that the audit team should exercise discretion in the use and protection of information acquired during the audit. The audit team leader should acknowledge that the auditor’s behavior was inappropriate and unprofessional, and that he violated the audit rules and the auditee’s rights. The audit team leader should apologize for the inconvenience and the discomfort caused by the auditor, and assure the Quality Manager that the auditor will be removed from the audit team and that his photographs will be erased from his phone and any other device or media. The audit team leader should also inform the auditor of his misconduct and the consequences, and report the incident to the audit program manager and the certification body.

•F. Advise the Quality Manager that he, as audit team leader, needs to speak to the auditor about the situation and he will report back to the Quality Manager once this is done. This action is consistent with the principle of communication, which states that the audit team should exchange information with the auditee in a timely, open, honest, and respectful manner. The audit team leader should express his concern and his willingness to address the issue with the auditor, and ask for the Quality Manager’s patience and cooperation. The audit team leader should also explain that the audit process is not finished yet, and that the Closing meeting is an opportunity to present and discuss the audit findings and conclusions, and to seek feedback and clarification from the auditee. The audit team leader should then speak to the auditor privately, and follow the steps described in action D.

The other options are not appropriate or effective ways to deal with this situation, because they either:

•B. Delay the Closing meeting until the audit team leader has consulted his audit program manager at Head Office. This action would disrupt the audit schedule and the audit plan, and create unnecessary delays and costs for both the audit team and the auditee. It would also show a lack of leadership and decision-making skills from the audit team leader, and undermine his authority and credibility. The audit team leader should be able to handle the situation on site, and consult his audit program manager only if the situation escalates or becomes unmanageable.

•C. Advise the Quality Manager that the auditor will be reported to Head Office. This action would escalate the conflict and create a hostile and defensive atmosphere between the audit team and the auditee. It would also imply that the audit team leader is not capable or willing to resolve the issue himself, and that he is threatening or punishing the auditee for raising a legitimate concern. The audit team leader should try to defuse the tension and restore the trust and the rapport with the Quality Manager, and report the auditor to Head Office only after the audit is completed and the audit report is submitted.

•E. Apologise for the situation and ensure the Quality Manager that all photographs will be deleted during the Closing meeting. This action would not address the root cause of the problem, and would not prevent the auditor from taking more photographs or using them for other purposes. It would also expose the audit team and the auditee to unnecessary risks and liabilities, and compromise the confidentiality and the security of the audit information. The audit team leader should delete the photographs as soon as possible, and not wait until the Closing meeting.

References: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 19011:2018, PECB Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Common Audit Problems and How to Deal with Them, The Auditor’s Guide to Conflict Resolution, Conflict Resolution in your Audit Career, How to Be a Good Auditor as a Team Leader

According to ISO 9001:2015, clause 9.2.2.e, the organization is required to retain documented information as evidence of the implementation of the audit programme and the audit results. This includes the records of the nonconformities identified during the internal audits and the corrective actions taken to address them. The organization is also required to verify the effectiveness of the corrective actions, as per clause 10.2.2.

Therefore, in the scenario given, the Quality Manager’s decision to automatically close any nonconformance over 3 years old without obtaining any confirmation from the relevant departments or verifying the effectiveness of the corrective actions is a clear violation of the requirements of clause 9.2.2.e. This indicates a lack of control and follow-up of the internal audit process, as well as a potential risk of recurrence or occurrence of the nonconformities in other areas. This also undermines the credibility and value of the internal audit programme, as well as the risk-based approach claimed by the Quality Manager.

Hence, the best course of action to take is D, to raise a nonconformance report against clause 9.2.2.e of ISO 9001, and to communicate the audit findings to the relevant management. The other options are either insufficient or irrelevant to address the issue, as they do not directly relate to the noncompliance with clause 9.2.2.e.

References:

• ISO 9001:2015(en), Quality management systems — Requirements, clause 9.2.2 and 10.2.2
• ISO 19011:2018(en), Guidelines for auditing management systems, clause 6.4.4 and 6.7.2
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training Course | IRCA Certified | BSI, section “Learning objectives”
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Course Material | 3FOLD Education Centre, module 5 and 6

According to the ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group Guidance on Improvement Opportunities1, an improvement opportunity is a suggestion made by the auditor for the auditee to consider that, if implemented, may enhance the performance of the QMS. Improvement opportunities are not mandatory, but they should be based on objective evidence and aligned with the audit criteria and objectives. Improvement opportunities should also be realistic, feasible, and beneficial for the auditee. In this case, the evidence statements that represent acceptable improvement opportunities in the report are A, C, and E, because they address the potential causes and effects of the spelling errors in the print run, and propose possible actions that may improve the quality of the products and services, and the effectiveness of the QMS. These options are consistent with the requirements and principles of ISO 9001, such as clause 6.1 on actions to address risks and opportunities, clause 8.1 on operational planning and control, clause 8.5.1 on control of production and service provision, and clause 10.2 on nonconformity and corrective action. The other options are not appropriate improvement opportunities, because they are either irrelevant, unrealistic, or unhelpful for the auditee. For example, option B may contradict the audit objective and scope, option D may imply a lack of auditor competence or impartiality, option F may not address the root cause of the problem, option G may not be applicable or effective, and option H may not be feasible or justified. References: ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group Guidance on Improvement Opportunities, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group Guidance on Audit Evidence

Table

Statement

First-party audits

Second-party audits

Third-party audits

The audit scope is typically determined by the organisation being audited.

Yes

No

No

The outcome of the audit is typically certification to a recognised standard.

No

No

Yes

The audit scope is typically confined to service/product provision capability.

No

Yes

No

Here is a brief explanation of each statement:

• The audit scope is typically determined by the organisation being audited: This statement applies to first-party audits, also known as internal audits, where the organisation audits its own processes and activities to ensure conformity and improvement1. The organisation can decide the scope of the audit based on its own needs and objectives2. This statement does not apply to second-party audits, where the customer audits the supplier, or third-party audits, where an independent body audits the organisation. In these cases, the audit scope is determined by the customer or the certification body, respectively34.
• The outcome of the audit is typically certification to a recognised standard: This statement applies to third-party audits, where an independent body audits the organisation to verify that it meets the requirements of a specific standard, such as ISO 9001, and issues a certificate of conformity if the audit is successful34. This statement does not apply to first-party audits or second-party audits, where the outcome of the audit is not certification, but rather self-improvement or supplier qualification13.
• The audit scope is typically confined to service/product provision capability: This statement applies to second-party audits, where the customer audits the supplier to ensure that they are meeting the requirements specified in the contract, such as service or product quality, delivery, or performance34. The audit scope is usually focused on the specific aspects of the service or product that are of interest to the customer3. This statement does not apply to first-party audits or third-party audits, where the audit scope is broader and covers the entire quality management system or the relevant clauses of the standard14.

In the context of a third-party certification audit, match the roles with the following responsibilities:

Responsibilities:

Conduct the audit to the assigned area.= Auditors

Assist the auditors in identifying personnel to participate in the audit.= Guide

Assign each team member’s responsibility for the audit.= Audit team leader

Respond to questions and provide evidence to the auditor.= Auditee

According to ISO 19011:2018, clause 3, the definitions of the roles are as follows1:

• Auditors: persons with the competence to conduct an audit
• Guide: person appointed by the auditee to assist the audit team
• Auditee: organization being audited
• Audit team leader: member of an audit team appointed to manage the audit or an audit team

Therefore, the roles can be matched to the responsibilities based on these definitions and the description of the audit process in clause 6 of the standard1.

References: ISO 19011:2018(en), Guidelines for auditing management systems

Nonconformity report

ISO 9001 Clause Number: 8.5.4 Nature of problem: Cleaning and sanitising records are not available for every batch. ISO 9001 requirement that has not been fulfilled: ISO 9001 - “The organization shall implement planned arrangements, at appropriate stages, to verify that the product requirements have been met.” Evidence: 40 cleaning records are available for 63 batches.

According to ISO 19011:2018, clause 6.6.2, a nonconformity is the non-fulfilment of a requirement. A nonconformity can be classified as either major or minor, depending on the nature and extent of the deviation from the audit criteria. A major nonconformity is a nonconformity that affects the ability or the integrity of the organization’s management system to achieve the intended results. A minor nonconformity is a nonconformity that does not affect the ability or the integrity of the organization’s management system to achieve the intended results, but is a deviation from the audit criteria1.

According to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, clause 9.4.9, the organization is required to analyze the cause and describe the specific correction and corrective actions taken, or planned to be taken, to eliminate detected nonconformities, within a defined time. The organization is also required to provide the certification body with records and evidence of the implementation and effectiveness of the correction and corrective actions taken. The certification body will then verify the correction and corrective actions taken by the organization and decide on the certification status2.

Therefore, the two options of when the organization is required to act in response to reported findings are D and F, as they indicate the presence of nonconformities that need to be corrected and prevented from recurring. The other options are not correct, as they do not require the organization to act in response to reported findings:

•A. A recommendation is given in the report: A recommendation is a suggestion for improvement that is not related to a nonconformity. A recommendation is not binding for the organization and does not affect the certification status. The organization may choose to accept or reject the recommendation, but it is not required to act on it.

•B. A finding of good practice is reported: A finding of good practice is a positive observation that indicates a strength or a best practice of the organization’s management system. A finding of good practice is not related to a nonconformity and does not affect the certification status. The organization may choose to acknowledge or share the finding of good practice, but it is not required to act on it.

•C. An opportunity for improvement is raised: An opportunity for improvement is a potential area where the organization’s management system can be enhanced or optimized. An opportunity for improvement is not related to a nonconformity and does not affect the certification status. The organization may choose to pursue or ignore the opportunity for improvement, but it is not required to act on it.

•E. A finding of conformity is reported: A finding of conformity is a confirmation that the organization’s management system fulfils the audit criteria. A finding of conformity is not related to a nonconformity and does not affect the certification status. The organization may choose to celebrate or communicate the finding of conformity, but it is not required to act on it.

References: ISO 19011:2018(en), Guidelines for auditing management systems, ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015(en), Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems — Part 1: Requirements

According to the ISO 9001:2015 document, the organisation must continually improve the suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the quality management system1. However, among the six options given, only effectiveness is directly mentioned as an aspect of the quality management system that must be continually improved. Therefore, C is one of the correct answers.

Efficiency, on the other hand, is not explicitly stated as an aspect of the quality management system that must be continually improved, but it is implied by the quality management principle of improvement, which states that successful organisations have an ongoing focus on improvement2. One of the key benefits of applying this principle is improving operational effectiveness and efficiency2. Therefore, E is another correct answer.

Suitability, adaptability, responsiveness, and applicability are not aspects of the quality management system that must be continually improved, according to the ISO 9001:2015 document. They may be related to the quality management system, but they are not the focus of continual improvement.

Therefore, the correct answer is C and E.

References: 1: ISO 9001:2015 - Quality management systems — Requirements 2: ISO - Quality management principles

A first-party audit is an internal audit conducted by auditors who are employed by the organization being audited but who have no vested interest in the audit results of the area being audited1. The purpose of a first-party audit is to assess the conformity of the organization’s quality management system to the requirements of ISO 9001 and to identify opportunities for improvement2. Therefore, the two auditors who would not participate in a first-party audit are:

•A. An auditor employed by an external consultancy organization: This auditor is not employed by the organization being audited, and therefore does not qualify as a first-party auditor. This auditor may be hired to conduct a second-party audit (if the external consultancy organization is a customer or supplier of the organization being audited) or a third-party audit (if the external consultancy organization is a certification body or registrar).

•F. An auditor from a customer: This auditor is not employed by the organization being audited, and therefore does not qualify as a first-party auditor. This auditor may be hired to conduct a second-party audit, as a customer is an interested party that has specific requirements for the organization being audited.

The other options are not correct, as they could participate in a first-party audit, as long as they are employed by the organization being audited and have no vested interest in the audit results of the area being audited:

•B. An auditor from an interested party: This auditor could be a first-party auditor, as long as the interested party is within the organization being audited. For example, an auditor from the finance department could audit the production department, as long as they are not involved in the production process or affected by its outcomes.

•C. An auditor trained in-house: This auditor could be a first-party auditor, as long as they are employed by the organization being audited and have no vested interest in the audit results of the area being audited. The source of the auditor’s training is not relevant for determining the type of audit, as long as the auditor is competent and qualified to perform the audit.

•D. An auditor trained in the IRCA scheme: This auditor could be a first-party auditor, as long as they are employed by the organization being audited and have no vested interest in the audit results of the area being audited. The IRCA scheme is a professional certification scheme for auditors of management systems, which provides recognition of the auditor’s competence and credibility3. However, being trained in the IRCA scheme does not determine the type of audit, as long as the auditor is competent and qualified to perform the audit.

•E. An auditor certified by IRCA: This auditor could be a first-party auditor, as long as they are employed by the organization being audited and have no vested interest in the audit results of the area being audited. Being certified by IRCA means that the auditor has met the requirements of the IRCA scheme and has demonstrated their competence and credibility as an auditor of management systems3. However, being certified by IRCA does not determine the type of audit, as long as the auditor is competent and qualified to perform the audit.

References: First Party Audits: The 5 Steps to Success - Sync Resource Inc, ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group, IRCA - International Register of Certificated Auditors