Ensuring auditors are qualified to audit TS

Hello!

What would qualify our internal auditors to audit TS? Could we have one representative that is certificate-carrying that 'trains' the remainder of the internal auditors? Does a CQA from ASQ suffice for qualification? If not, what are some recommended programs?

Thanks!

 

Thank you both for your feedback!

 

Clause 8.2.2.5 specifies the Internal auditor qualification. "The organization shall have internal auditors who are qualified to audit the requirements of this Technical specification"

 

Just to add: Clause 8.2.2.5 ends with this (see 6.2.2.2).
Where 6.2.2.2 says "Personnel performing specific assigned tasks shall be qualified, as required, with particular attention to the satisfaction of customer requirements."
So if you are under the supply chain of an automotive OEM, for example Ford, you have to satisfy their customer-specific requirements for internal auditor qualifications which specifies:

8.2.2.5 Internal Auditor Qualifications
Internal quality management system auditors shall be qualified as stated below:

Be trained and evaluated in the following areas:

• The Technical Specification ISO/TS 16949
• Related core tools (e.g. APQP, SPC, MSA, FMEA, PPAP)
• Applicable customer-specific requirements, and
• The automotive process approach to auditing.

And, as part of the training, participates in practice sessions equivalent to one audit day in:

• Case study audits, and/or
• Auditing role plays/simulations, and/or
• On-site audits

Or, have conducted at least 5 internal ISO/TS 16949 internal audits during the prior 24 months under the supervision of an auditor trained as specified in the section above. The audits will need to have covered all requirements of the technical specification and all processes directly impacting Ford product quality at least once over the 5 or more audits.​

Other OEMs' (e.g. GM, Chrysler, etc.) customer-specific requirements have also their own set of criteria for qualifying internal auditors.