Surveillance audits by lead auditors

[qualitysys]

Hello, we have a third party certification body that is giving us the service of the TS16949 audits, surveillance & certification audits. trying to find a cost saving ideas, it is possible to cover surveillance audits with Lead auditors from our organization and use third party certification body services just in certification or recertification audits?
thanks.

[AndyN]

Originally Posted by qualitysys

Hello, we have a third party certification body that is giving us the service of the TS16949 audits, surveillance & certification audits. trying to find a cost saving ideas, it is possible to cover surveillance audits with Lead auditors from our organization and use third party certification body services just in certification or recertification audits?
thanks.

Not if you want to maintain an accredited TS certification! It wouldn't be 'independent' with your own leads, would it? The IATF/IAOB would throw a fit!

Why are you looking to reduce costs like this? Aren't you getting much value from your CB's visits? A proactive, progressive and customer focused CB looks past simple compliance and will look at your system to find cost savings worth much more than the costs of those visits!

[AndyN]

BTW - welcome to the Cove!

[Sidney Vianna]

Originally Posted by AndyN

Not if you want to maintain an accredited TS certification!

Not to mince words, but I believe the proper term is recognized. Remember, the TS certification process exists outside of the IAF accreditation process.

Originally Posted by AndyN

A proactive, progressive and customer focused CB looks past simple compliance and will look at your system to find cost savings worth much more than the costs of those visits!

Be careful. The IATF is concerned about CB auditors not crossing the consulting line. While CB auditors might be able to identify opportunities for improvement, this is being done very carefully, these days.

[qualitysys]

Originally Posted by AndyN

BTW - welcome to the Cove!

thanks Andy, and of course that I want to maintain our certification, and the proposal is just surveillance audits not certification/recertification audits, CB's audits are more now a requirement to receive a check for the "service".

[Sidney Vianna]

Originally Posted by qualitysys

thanks Andy, and of course that I want to maintain our certification, and the proposal is just surveillance audits not certification/recertification audits,

As Andy said, if you want to maintain your certification, it is MANDATORY that the CB auditors perform surveillance audits at intervals no longer than 12 months apart. There is no cost savings possibility there. Actually, the IATF requires that one of the auditors involved with the certification audit is involved with the surveillance audits.

[AndyN]

Originally Posted by Sidney Vianna

Not to mince words, but I believe the proper term is recognized. Remember, the TS certification process exists outside of the IAF accreditation process. Be careful. The IATF is concerned about CB auditors not crossing the consulting line. While CB auditors might be able to identify opportunities for improvement, this is being done very carefully, these days.

True, Sidney - the overall effect is the same, tho'

Also, yes, I read you 5 x 5 - wouldn't an OFI result in cost savings........?

[AndyN]

Originally Posted by qualitysys

thanks Andy, and of course that I want to maintain our certification, and the proposal is just surveillance audits not certification/recertification audits, CB's audits are more now a requirement to receive a check for the "service".

I understand the concept - it just won't fly for any part of the process! It it would, somebody (creative) would have done it by now, of course.........