Re: ISO IEC 17021 - How do you define competence
Originally Posted by
Randy
As for the question....I'm a firm believer that an auditor should have some hands on experience with the subject matter of the audit (other than a 40 hour course) to begin with and then the industry itself. Automotive, medical, food and aerospace already mandate industry experience (though I don't agree with some of the timelines).
I'll weigh in on this too. I fear this will get messy for 3rd party auditors for a couple years, until the dust settles again.
There are some industries where I have a lot of experience, and some where I have a little (enough to meet the requirement). I can truthfully say I audit each more than adequately. Those where I have the most experience,I can ask more deep, technical questions. BUT, I am not there to challenge whether the operator was as good at it as I was. I am there to assess whether he is doing an effective job, and the system is effective. Maybe, to add a few OFI's. I can do that equally well with my best industry codes and my lesser ones. The extra depth of knowledge can actually get in the way in some cases.
Now, if it is an industry where I have no experience, it would take a few audits to get good familiarity, in order to audit well. But, alas, the AB's don't see it this way and the fur will fly for a while.
OK. That is another problem .... there are some auditors who are able to apply their trade in a range of industry sectors and there are others who, if you take them an inch out of their comfort zone, fall to pieces.
Those auditors should NOT be 3rd party auditors in the first place. here are some general requirements about having appropriate manager level and business experience. Those types should fail that first threshold.