Good luck... The major companies have completed QS-9000 implementations (read big money is mostly over). Most of the call now is small firms (3 to 20 people) with a few calls from companies up to maybe 300 people. Five years ago I could get a US$10,000 retainer and US$3500 a week plus expenses. No longer.
Unfortunately the perception of highly paid consultants lies with the top few (like KPMG who charge shitloads of $$$ just to come in to say hello). And most of the ISO business is going to the companies offering miracle 3 month implementations. Not to mention that, compared to 8 years ago when I started, everyone and their uncle is an ISO9000 consultant.
Even the auditors are weird. I recently had a conversation with a client who went thru the yearly registrar visit. Entela was the registrar. As usual, they had a different auditor than the last audit. This auditor complained that there had not been enough findings in internal audits - from this comes "...internal audits are not effective...". No mention was made of the previous 2 visits by Entela auditors who both came away from their audits with NO findings! I can only guess that their lack of findings implied that the registrar audits are not effective - and it was this arguement which 'blocked' the auditor from writing them up for this....
This guy left with 4 'findings' which were each a crock - at best they were OPINIONS. Now get this - the auditor was a former chiropractor (he even requested that he be called Doctor...). Why he's auditing for a living is beyond me. However, he had some wild interpretations. Bottom line is they were so minor that the 'suggestions' were 'implemented'. No value added. No significant risk factors involved. It was essentially the old "...I think if you did this it would be better..." So close to consulting it was sad. The company is now seriously considering switching registrars - which was the reason for the phone call.
This does not even address the issue of auditor qualifications - my requirement is the auditor has to have had experience working in the industry s/he is auditing. I wonder how long that auditor (the Doctor) worked in the chemical industry.... Granted (sadly) this is with respect to a registrar's auditor. I would not have accepted him in the first place.
When chiropractors are quitting their practices to become ISO auditors, what's next?
You might want to keep your job...