What are the steps to being accepted as a TS 16949 Lead Auditor?

[Marc]

I'm looking at possibly getting qualified as a TS 16949 auditor. I have Annex 2 "Criteria for third party auditor qualification to ISO/TS 16949:2002" and understand the IATF requirements.

A couple of years ago I looked into taking the TS 16949 Lead Auditor course. Long story, but my understanding a couple of years ago was that to take the course a person had to be 'recommended' by a registrar which does not appear is the case (I don't know if it was then or if I misunderstood the requirements). Now there are 'public' courses, includng IATF 'approved' courses anyone can sign up for.

So - What's the scoop? As many details as possible, please.

Also - is there an excess of TS auditors like there are ISO 9001 auditors? What's the 'employment' situation?

[Howard Atkins]

You can only get on to the 3rd party course if you are sponsored by an IATF contracted registrar.

See section 4 of annex 2

Auditor training is only open to an auditor sponsored by a IATF contracted certification body, accreditation body witness auditor or IATF nominees.
- To apply to attend an IATF training session, the sponsoring certification
body shall provide to the IATF for each candidate a file containing a copy
of their existing qualifications including records demonstrating audit and
work experience. This is contained in the auditor application form. This
document expands the IATF requirements.
- Only candidates with an accepted file will be allowed to attend the training
and qualification course.
Note : abbreviated IATF sanctioned automotive training courses are
allowed for auditors previously qualified to ISO/TS 16949:1999.
- All auditors must successfully complete the common IATF ISO/TS
16949:2002 sanctioned auditor examination, irrespective of existing
qualification.
- An auditor qualification certificate will be valid for a period of three years.
Auditor re-certification is required within this period.
- Failure to conduct a minimum of three (3) ISO/TS 16949:2002 audits with
a minimum total of six (6) audit days, per year, will result in withdrawal of
the qualification certificate.

It is a closed shop, but we have friends, mine in Israel do not what to help me, maybe our mutual friends in the states will.
How about it lads!!!!

[Manoj Mathur]

Mr. Johar Jerewalla who is our Cove Forum Member also is an TS auditor since long. I believe he is one of the Indian who has audited maximum Nos. of Automotive Audits in India as well as abroad. He has done many QS -9000, TS 16949:1999 (Older Version) audits also.

Regards,

Manoj Mathur

[tomvehoski]

I believe this has been the case back to the QS days. I wanted to take the 5 day QS lead auditor course at AIAG. I had a friend that worked there, but she could not help me get in either - had to be sponsored by a registrar.

[Ramani]

Hi,
AIAG-Southfield-MI offer a TS 16949 Auditor course.
This is jointly oferred with Plexus Intl.
This is course can be taken by individuals.
Subsequently auidotrs have to undertake no,of audits before
registering with RAB
You may check at www.plexusintl.com

I am a IRCA Certified ISO/TS 16949:2002 Auditor.
My tutors then tell me that if i can perform TS 16949 audits for CB,
i can register with TAF/RAB.

Can anyone tell me if this is correct?
Who in IATF/AIAG /SMMT can answer this question

[Howard Atkins]

There are 2 seperate courses.
One for a third party auditor for which you have to have a sponsor from a registration body and the second for a lead auditor course which does not allow you to perform 3rd party audits.
Registration to RAB/IRCA is irelevant and so is the Plexus course which is

RABQSA-Certified Internal and Lead Auditor Training

Please be advised that as a result of RAB's merger with QSA, the title of Plexus Corporation's "RAB-Accredited ISO 9001:2000 Lead Auditor Training with AIAG ISO/TS 16949:2002 Supplier Auditor Certification" changed as of Jan. 1, 2005, to the new course name, "RABQSA-Certified ISO 9001:2000 Lead Auditor Training with AIAG ISO/TS 16949:2002 Supplier Auditor Certification."

Please note that this is A CHANGE IN NAME ONLY and does not affect the course content nor the existing QMS auditor certification requirements or AIAG Supplier Auditor Certification requirements.

internal only

There are no 3rd party courses planned at the moment
see
http://iaob.org/training/16949_auditor.html

[jayesh vishnuswami]

I am Lead Auditor for ISO 9001 having 7 yrs exp in automotive industries and would like to become ' TS 16949 Lead Auditor '.

I have come to know that Two types of LA programsnm (2nd Party) for TS 16949 are arranged in India.
1) Omnex Consulting conducting - RABQSA registered Lead Auditor ISO 9001 with emphasis on TS 16949 requirements
2) SMMT conducting IATF 2nd party TS 16949 LA.

Could you suggest me which one having the highest recognization in automotive industries OR which one is the best ?

Could you have any tranining material in order to prepare such course or Reference to any Website ?

Regards

Jayesh Vishnuswami

[Howard Atkins]

I think that the SMMT course includes core tools etc and is more automotive related whereas the other course is more of a LA course which will spend a lot of time on the previously learned material.
SMMT are one of the members of IATF and as such I would expect them to be more accepted