Becoming an IATF 16949 Third Party Auditor

[Anerol C]

Good afternoon,

I have 16 years of quality background, most of them working as QMS administrator, my last job was as Quality Manager, I would like to try as 3rd Party auditor. I have applied lately but I have not received a response back. My last job was ISO 9001, so I have not taken a formal IATF 16949. Please guide me how can offer an accredited RAB or IRCA or which one is required IATF 16949 class?, I'm willing to pay my own IATF training and work hard to meet 3rd party auditor requirements. I used to have accredited ISO TS 16949 and IS0 9001 lead/internal auditir training. Please help. I know that is not easy but I need to start from the beginning. Thanks for your help.

 

[Howard Atkins]

First you need to be sponsored by a contracted CB.

These are the requirements from the rules

The certification body shall have a process for selecting new auditor candidates for admission into the IATF auditor qualification process. The contracted office of the sponsoring certification body shall submit for each​

candidate a completed application form and relevant supporting information to the relevant IATF Oversight office for approval and access to the IATF auditor qualification process.​

The auditor candidate shall meet the following selection cnteria:​

a} is qualified according to lSO/IEC 17021 and the relevant accreditation body rule to perform ISO 9001 audits;​

b} has conducted at least six {5} ISO 9001 third-party audits in manufacturing industries, with at least three {3} as audit team leader;​

Note: Automotive manufactunng first- or second-party system auditing experience may be considered.​

c} has knowledge of automotive core tooIs_; and​

d} has four {4} years full time appropriate practical experience (including two {2} years dedicated​

to Quality Assurance and/or Ouality Management activities} in the past ten {10} years in an organization meeting the applicability of IATF 16949​

Note: Experience in industries with similar scopes of applicability in chemical, electrical, or metallic commodities may be considered-​

​

see also
The IATF auditor qualification process has two phases: initial qualification and requalification- Details of the two phases can be found on International Automotive Task Force

 

[Rameshwar25]

1. Effective 1st June 2018, the auditor qualification process has changed. Link is here :
https://www.iatfglobaloversight.org...B-Communique-2018-003-New-Auditor-Process.pdf
If you have passed through, please share your experience. Your sharing will new aspirants to learn new changes.

2. In June 17, the requirement for working experience was revised from "4 years out of last 10 years" to 4 years out of last 15 years" (Refer SI # 1 of rule book). Link is here: https://www.iatfglobaloversight.org...s-SIs_Final_for-release-27-September-2017.pdf

If your are still studying, i suggest to focus on :

1. Three Automotive core tools (SPC. MSA and FMEA only)​

2. ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949 standards (with lastest SI and FAQs)​

3. Rule Book 5th Ed ( (with latest SI and FAQs))​

4. CSRs of 9 IATF OEMs​

5. IATF Auditor guide 3rd Ed​

6. Sample audit plans for various types of audits (stage 1, stage 2, surveillance)​

 

[pwhpan]

Hi, i read from the SI...

Can anyone explain "within the past 15years in an automotive manufacturing organization" means it is mandatory to have 15years working experience?
Or if i am a fresh graduate and i work in automotive manufacturing under QMS for 4years, means i am qualified regardless years of working experience?

Please advise...

 

[AMIT BALLAL]

If you have 4 years of experience (Including 2 years dedicated to Quality/QMS), you are eligible for certification. It is not mandatory to have 15 years of experience. It cannot be like the auditor has 25 years of total experience and had experience of working in Quality / QMS 20 years back.

 

[morteza]

Hi all,

May anyone share his/her experience on IATF 16949 3rd party auditor exam?
Are there any sample questions or case studies from these exam?

Thanks all

 

[tpeott]

The 3rd party exam has been revamped from 2 years ago. I have to say it is much more "real life" than previous. I did not pass the exam 2 years ago. I have recently taken the exam in February 2020, and have a better feel for how I did, but have not yet received my pass / fail yet.

 

[Rameshwar25]

Dear Morteza
.Now, for two years, IATFADP cerdentials are provided for self study before exam. You will be provide sample questions (modules) in IATF ADP. After going through sample questions, you need to pass online exam in ADP after which you will be provided two certificates. Only after submission of these certificates, you will be permitted to attend course. This all exercise needs considerable time and must be finished well in advance before going to attend course.

 

[Buford]

Hi all,

May anyone share his/her experience on IATF 16949 3rd party auditor exam?
Are there any sample questions or case studies from these exam?

Thanks all

I am a 3rd party auditor. The exams are taken after a 3 day training class given in Southfield MI by Plexus. The exams cover 5 separate areas and each exam is separate from the others. The testing takes all of the 4th day. Specifically, you will be tested on SPC, FMEA, and Control Plan from the AIAG manuals, the other 2 tests are the IATF 16949:2016 manual and lastly Rules (in my case 5th edition). You must score a minimum of 80% on each test. You could conceivably score 100% on 4 of the tests and get a 79 on another and you do not pass! Bone up on the AIAG manuals and take self exams wherever you can get some quizzes. All tests are timed for 90 minutes - do not waste any time as time management is key, there is no forgiveness for not finishing in 90 minutes. The IATF exam will be one where you read a scenario of a company totally frought with many problems - do not fall for getting involved and thinking of all the things you need to do to fix the problems as your 90 minute clock is running and when you get to the quiz questions you realize you have just wasted too much time on the scenario. On test day you will be given a schedule of where to be at what time - your classmates will not be in the same tests as you. After an exhausting day of 5 tests you then will be given a company scenario and you are required to make an audit plan which you will take into an oral defense room where 2 Plexus personnel will have you explain your audit plan and why you selected certain things to audit - I can not say how this oral defense is scored but they have a say in your passing somehow. You must study very hard as the first time pass rate is somewhere at about the 25% level - most do not pass the first time due to time management and not completing the tests in 90 minutes. Good luck! After you have been granted the IATF 3rd party certificate you will be in the field for 2 years then back to Southfield for your 2 year testing. First 2 years as an auditor your Auditor ADP number will start with a 3. If you do not pass totally at your 2 year exam you will be a 'Yellow" auditor status and your ADP number will be a 4- something. If you full pass at the 2 year exam your ADP # starts with a 5 and you are basically good to audit forever - or at least a very long time.

 

[Marc]

Are there any sample questions or case studies from these exam?

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