Master PECB QMS ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor: Your Key to Success
An audit team leader arrives at a printing company to carry out a Stage 2 audit for a certification body. At a meeting with the Quality Manager, she is told that they have won their biggest contract from a computer manufacturer to print and compile computer documentation packages. The Quality Manager wants the ISO 9001 certificate to cover the new contract.
During the audit, a team member found that some print jobs had been rejected by several clients over some months due to spelling errors in the print run. The Print Manager blames the new employees they had to take on because of a big contract.
The auditor finds that the responsibility for checking spelling errors is placed on the printer that sets up the print run.
In line with the policy of the certification body, the audit team raise improvement opportunities in the audit report. Which three of the following options would represent acceptable opportunities for improvement in the report?
Correct : A, C, E
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. Reference: ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group Guidance on Improvement Opportunities, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group Guidance on Audit Evidence
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Takitup is a small fabrication organisation that manufactures steel fencing, stairs and platforms for the construction sector. It has been certified to ISO 9001 for some time and has appointed a new Quality Manager. The audit plan during a surveillance audit covers the organisation's improvement actions and the auditor asks to see the most recent management review meeting minutes.
The auditor finds that the management review report records that none of the improvement actions set by the previous review has been realised for a second time. A new Quality Manager has been brought in at the middle management level to rectify the situation as the organisation is concerned that it might lose its certification.
Select three options that would provide evidence of conformance with clause 10.3 of ISO 9001.
Correct : D, E, G
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You are an auditor from a construction organisation who is conducting a second party audit to ISO 9001 at a steel rolling mill producing
structural steelwork. When auditing the rolling process, you find that the operator who is unloading the furnace does not use the
adjacent infrared pyrometer to measure the appropriate product temperature in readiness for the next production stage.
You: "How do you tell when the billet is ready for the rolling stage?"
Operator: "I've done this job for 20 years. I can tell by the bright red colour."
You: "What happens if the colour is wrong?"
Operator: "The billet goes back into the furnace."
You: "Is the pyrometer ever used?"
Operator: "Only in borderline cases."
You continue to interview the operator and find that around 25% of the billets are sent back to the furnace. This includes 80% of the borderline cases.
Select three options that would provide evidence of conformance with clause 9.1.1 of ISO 9001.
Correct : A, E, F
According to ISO 9001:2015, clause 9.1.1, the organization is required to determine what needs to be monitored and measured, the methods for monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation, as applicable, to ensure valid results, and when the monitoring and measuring shall be performed. The organization is also required to retain appropriate documented information as evidence of the results.
Therefore, in the scenario given, the organization should have planned for monitoring and measuring the billet temperature, as it is a critical factor for the quality of the product and the process. The organization should also have established a procedure that provides instruction in taking billet temperature, using the pyrometer or other suitable methods, to ensure consistency and accuracy. The organization should also have performed periodic analysis of the results of temperature checks, to identify trends, problems, and opportunities for improvement.
Hence, the options that would provide evidence of conformance with clause 9.1.1 of ISO 9001 are A, E, and F, as they are aligned with the requirements of the clause. The other options are either irrelevant or not directly related to clause 9.1.1, as they do not pertain to the monitoring and measurement of the billet temperature.
ISO 9001:2015(en), Quality management systems --- Requirements, clause 9.1.1
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
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An internal auditor of a manufacturer of polystyrene packaging products for the electronics industry raised a nonconformity against section 10.3 of ISO 9001 in Report IA202. The nonconformity (NC 3) stated:
"The reject rate of the finished product of 9.7% needs improvement as it doesn't meet the stated objective of top management of 5%."
As the third-party auditor reviewing the internal audit process, you come across the nonconformity. For corrective action, the Quality Manager conducted an investigation into the reject rates. He reported that the collection baskets for products ejecting from the moulding machines were not large enough. About 6% of products fell onto the wet and dirty factory floor. Management stated that replacing the baskets was too costly and ordered the Maintenance Manager to ensure that the floor was kept clean and dry to prevent rejects. The auditor later checked the factory floor, which was wet and dirty in places.
From the following nonconformities, select three that the auditor could raise to ISO 9001.
Correct : A, B, C
The auditor could raise the following nonconformities to ISO 9001 based on the scenario:
* Option A: 10.3 - The organisation did not continuously improve. Reject rates were unchanged. This option is correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 10.3 requires the organization to improve the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the quality management system. The organization did not demonstrate any improvement in reducing the reject rate of the finished product, which was a stated objective of top management. The corrective action taken by the organization was not effective in addressing the root cause of the problem and preventing its recurrence.
* Option B: 7.1.4 - The factory environment is not suitably maintained to prevent dirty products. This option is correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 7.1.4 requires the organization to determine, provide and maintain the environment necessary for the operation of its processes and to achieve conformity of products and services. The organization did not ensure that the factory floor was clean and dry, which affected the quality of the products and increased the risk of nonconformity.
* Option C: 7.1.1 - The organization failed to provide the required resources to prevent nonconforming products. This option is correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 7.1.1 requires the organization to determine and provide the resources needed for the establishment, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of the quality management system. The organization did not provide adequate collection baskets for the products ejecting from the moulding machines, which resulted in products falling onto the factory floor and becoming nonconforming.
The following options are not correct:
* Option D: 9.2.2 - Report IA202 contained a poorly worded nonconformity (NC 3). This option is not correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 9.2.2 does not specify the requirements for the wording of nonconformities in internal audit reports. The nonconformity (NC 3) stated by the internal auditor was clear and relevant to the audit criteria and audit evidence. The issue is not with the report, but with the corrective action taken by the organization.
* Option E: 8.6 - Dirty products were released to the customer. This option is not correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 8.6 requires the organization to implement planned arrangements, at appropriate stages, to verify that the product and service requirements have been met. The scenario does not indicate that the dirty products were released to the customer, but that they were recalled and repaired then returned to the customers. The issue is not with the release, but with the production process and the environment.
* Option F: 7.3 - Staff were not aware that products were falling onto the factory floor. This option is not correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 7.3 requires the organization to ensure that the persons doing work under its control are aware of the quality policy, relevant quality objectives, their contribution to the effectiveness of the quality management system, and the implications of not conforming with the quality management system requirements. The scenario does not indicate that the staff were not aware of these aspects, but that the management did not provide adequate resources and environment for the staff to perform their work. The issue is not with the awareness, but with the management responsibility and resource provision.
* Option G: 10.2.1 - Conduct of an investigation was not sufficient to understand the cause of the nonconformity. This option is not correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 10.2.1 requires the organization to react to the nonconformity and, as applicable, take action to control and correct it and deal with the consequences. The scenario indicates that the Quality Manager conducted an investigation into the reject rates and identified the cause of the nonconformity. The issue is not with the investigation, but with the corrective action taken by the management.
* Option H: 8.5.1 - Production operations were not properly controlled to avoid reject products. This option is not correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 8.5.1 requires the organization to implement production and service provision under controlled conditions. The scenario indicates that the production operations were controlled by the moulding machines, which ejected the products into the collection baskets. The issue is not with the production operations, but with the size of the collection baskets and the condition of the factory floor.
* ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems - Requirements
* ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Course Material, Module 6: Reporting Audit Findings, Slide 14: Writing Nonconformity Statements
* ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training Course - IRCA Certified, Section 6.2: Reporting Audit Findings
* Lead Auditor Exam Preparation Guide (EPG) Template - PECB, Section 3.2: Exam Content Outline, Subsection 3.2.1: Section 1 - Audit Fundamentals, Subsection 3.2.2: Section 2 - Audit Principles, Subsection 3.2.3: Section 3 - Audit Process, Subsection 3.2.4: Section 4 - Audit Competencies
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You are carrying out an annual audit at an organisation that has been certificated to ISO 9001 for two years. The organisation offers home security
services. The scope of the quality management system covers alarm installation, alarm servicing, alarm monitoring and response. The business
operates from a single office and employs subcontract installers and service technicians across the country.
You have just completed the opening meeting. You are interviewing the Managing Director (MD).
You: "I would like to gain an understanding of how the quality management system has been supporting your business and its strategic direction."
MD: "We are continuing to face difficult times. The market is extremely competitive, and customers typically look for the least expensive option when
choosing home security services. We have not yet seen any business benefit from our quality management system."
You: "Tell me how you determine external and internal issues."
MD: "We use SWOT analysis (Strengths Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)."
You: "How have the outputs from your SWOT been used?"
Select two of the following audit trails would you take to explore the extent to which the SWOT analysis and the outputs from this
have been used to enable the business to achieve the intended results(s) of its quality management system according to ISO 9001.
Correct : B, D
Question no: 22 Verified Answer: = B. Establish how the organisation reviews
1: ISO 9001:2015 - Quality management systems --- Requirements
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Total 131 questions