Becoming an IATF 16949 Third Party Auditor

[morteza]

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.

Dear Buford,

Thanks for your great explanation.
I think the process you have described, is slightly different with the following flowchart by IATF, especially in training and exam days (3.5 days and 1.5 days) exam sequence and their times.
Has the exam process been changed?

 

[Buford]

Dear Buford,

Thanks for your great explanation.
I think the process you have described, is slightly different with the following flowchart by IATF, especially in training and exam days (3.5 days and 1.5 days) exam sequence and their times.
Has the exam process been changed?

5 years ago for me - go with the flowchart from rules 5th. My real point was you have to know this stuff and the only way to pass all the exams is to study, study, study. The tests aren’t easy and they are designed to take up every minute allowed.

 

[Howard Atkins]

The first action is to find a CB that will be willing to sponsor you, without that you cannot go one step further.
The CB that will sponsor you will guide you through the whole process.

 

[DSNegi]

I am preparing for IATF auditor qualification and also CB is ready to sponsor me.
Currently I am Lead Auditor in ISO 9001, 14001 & 45001. Delivers IA training for IAT 16949 also.
10 years of experience in automobile industry with 5 years in quality. Currently working as freelancer.

Seeks clarification on below points:
Q1) What benefits are there if I get qualified as IATF auditor?
Q2) What are the risk and opportunities are there to get qualified as IATF auditor?
Q3) Is the market got saturated for IATF auditor or the peak is yet to come?

 

[Jen Kirley]

Welcome DSNegri!

Q1) I see IATF auditors being offered more pay than most other standards. I also see full-time positions offered more often for this discipline, with benefits. Such a deal will very likely require minimum number of hours each month, as opposed to contractors who can work as little as a few weeks a year.
Q2) The training and testing is still done in Detroit, isn't it? When I took the class I was astounded to hear the instructor claim a requirement that was nowhere to be found in the standard, rules or Core Manuals. The tests are less of a horror show now than when I took them, I have heard. I failed three times (passing rate was only 20% at the time) and walked away for RC14001, which for me was a better fit. Study the materials thoroughly before you go if at all possible. When I took the tests they were like a trivia game, with questions such as the formula for MSA Reliability - and it was closed book. It was obscene, as we auditors are ALWAYS expected to bring our references to the job site. So why memorization of a formula now? Grrr
Q3) I do not see market saturation now and don't expect I will. There is a reason the CB has offered to sponsor you...

In a regulated discipline like automotive, expect more paperwork than 9001. Expect to also be referencing the Big Three Customer Requirements, and the need to help with the databases these certified companies are required to be listed in. All of that means more time expended for that pay. Time is added to the audit for this sort of preparation and likely for follow up, but you might not find it is enough.

I hope this helps.

 

[DSNegi]

Welcome DSNegri!

Q1) I see IATF auditors being offered more pay than most other standards. I also see full-time positions offered more often for this discipline, with benefits. Such a deal will very likely require minimum number of hours each month, as opposed to contractors who can work as little as a few weeks a year.
Q2) The training and testing is still done in Detroit, isn't it? When I took the class I was astounded to hear the instructor claim a requirement that was nowhere to be found in the standard, rules or Core Manuals. The tests are less of a horror show now than when I took them, I have heard. I failed three times (passing rate was only 20% at the time) and walked away for RC14001, which for me was a better fit. Study the materials thoroughly before you go if at all possible. When I took the tests they were like a trivia game, with questions such as the formula for MSA Reliability - and it was closed book. It was obscene, as we auditors are ALWAYS expected to bring our references to the job site. So why memorization of a formula now? Grrr
Q3) I do not see market saturation now and don't expect I will. There is a reason the CB has offered to sponsor you...

In a regulated discipline like automotive, expect more paperwork than 9001. Expect to also be referencing the Big Three Customer Requirements, and the need to help with the databases these certified companies are required to be listed in. All of that means more time expended for that pay. Time is added to the audit for this sort of preparation and likely for follow up, but you might not find it is enough.

I hope this helps.

Thanks Jen for sharing the insight!
Could you also clarify how much is the difference in the manday rates between the ISO auditor vs IATF auditor?
Also, is it better to join the CB or remain freelancer?

Regards,
DS Negi

 

[AMIT BALLAL]

I would add following points in addition to Jen's comments:
Q1) IATF has stringent requirements for auditor qualification and the auditor qualification is a time consuming process, hence CBs prefer auditors already qualified. And since only IATF qualifies the auditors, there tend to be less no. of auditors with a CB than required, hence an qualified auditor won't lack any job/work opportunity as compared to auditors for another standards.
Q2) As an auditor you'll need to travel a lot, but you'll also learn a lot. And if you are a freelancer, you can decide whether to take a work requiring travel or not. As you are working as a freelancer already, you'll get more work opportunities due to lack of no. of IATF auditors.
Q3) There is no market saturation for IATF auditors.

 

[AMIT BALLAL]

Thanks Jen for sharing the insight!
Could you also clarify how much is the difference in the manday rates between the ISO auditor vs IATF auditor?
Also, is it better to join the CB or remain freelancer?

Regards,
DS Negi

In India it is almost double of ISO9001 auditors. But it will depend upon the experience, qualification of auditors. And it will vary with different certification bodies.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Thanks Jen for sharing the insight!
Could you also clarify how much is the difference in the manday rates between the ISO auditor vs IATF auditor?
Also, is it better to join the CB or remain freelancer?

Regards,
DS Negi

Differences in compensation vary among registrars and regions, as Amit Ballal has described.

A full time position versus contract is appealing if you don't have health insurance another way. I didn't have a paid holiday in the seven years I worked as a contractor, and although there are laws stating this and that day will be paid holiday, there is always travel so I can only suppose they get compensation time off.

 

[Randy]

Could you also clarify how much is the difference in the manday rates between the ISO auditor vs IATF auditor?
Also, is it better to join the CB or remain freelancer?

Differences in rates between the 2? Too many variables but I know that I'm making more per day than most IATF and even AS auditors by the manday as you put it from what I've been told.

Better to join CB or freelance as you put it? Again too may variables and I've done both, however with a CB (depending on agency, country etc) you'll have a steady income and benefits (whatever they may be), as a "Freelancer", up to a point you could be selective in the work you do and how much or how little work you do. Also as a "freelancer" unless you do a degree of "uncompensated" extra work at your home office, I can guarantee you that the available work will go elsewhere to someone like me who has the opportunity to say thanks or no thanks. Again, 100 variables.

There are no 100% correct or right answers other than the ones that are right for you the individual.

I will tell you this, don't even consider it unless you're willing to be away from home upwards to 200+ days a year counting travel & work days.........And don't quit your day job!