IRCA certified Lead Auditor Course with specific reference to
ISO/IEC 17025 (Ex 103)
08.30 Registration  
08.45
Module 1 		Welcome and Introduction The course is designed to follow the stages in a live audit, including simulated audit interview and role play closing meetings.
Module 2 Quality and its Assurance A common understanding of quality is developed and the concept of internal customers and a process approach is introduced.
Module 3 Icebreaker Exercise  
Module 4 Audit Overview

The audit process is put into the context of a business management system and the four key elements of an audit introduced:-
- Planning
- Executing
- Reporting
- Close out of corrective action

Module 5 Quality Management Standards

Through discussion, examples and workshops, we develop an understanding and practical interpretation of ISO/IEC 17025

Included in this topic is a discussion on the 8 Quality Management Principles incorporating the 'process approach' and the Standard's concept of Plan, Do, Check, Act.

12,30 Lunch
13.15 Quality Management standards (cont'd)
Module 6 Audit Situations (prep and feedback)
Module 7 Documented Systems The Standard allows significant flexibility in how a management system is described and options are examined through an auditor's perspective to identify what is to be expected and acceptable to an auditor.
Module 8 Quality System Review (prep and feedback)
Module 9 Audit Planning Strategic audit planning is discussed to allow auditors to identify their overall approach to the audit, how they will ensure that all areas of the organization and the Standard have been adequately addressed, and the time that will be required to fully evaluate a management system.
18.30
Close
Day 2 08.00 Module 10 Audit Planning (prep and feedback)  
Module 11 Checklists Each auditor on the team must understand how they will undertake their part of the audit, and the checklist is a tactical tool allowing the auditor to plan the gathering of information for those areas to which they have been assigned.

As this topic is such a key aspect of an audit, both the theory and practice are examined in open discussion and workshop exercises.
Module 12 Preparing Checklists (prep and feedback)
Module 13 Opening Meeting The opening meeting sets the scene and tone of the audit. The conduct of this meeting is discussed in order to allow the lead auditor to demonstrate a planned and efficient approach.
12.30
- Lunch -
13.15
Module 14 		Opening Meeting (prep. and feedback)  
Module 15 Auditing Techniques This module provides information on how uncertainty statements should be reported and discusses considerations to be made when declaring compliance to predefined acceptance criteria.
Module 16 Case Study 1 Part 1 (prep and feedback) The audit process involves the gathering of information in order for decisions to be taken on the effectiveness of the management system. Through tutorials and case studies the auditor is trained in questioning techniques, the examination of data and reasoning skills in order to achieve a realistic conclusion as to how effective the management system is in practice.
Module 17 Nonconformity Writing Part 1 (prep and feedback)
Module 18 Case Study 1 Part 2 (prep)
Module 19 Introduction to Examination - Part 1  
18.00
Close
Day 3 08.00
Module 18 		Case Study 1 Part 2 (prep. and feedback)  
Module 20 Auditing Techniques (cont'd) Tutor led discussions on the findings from case study 1 and workshop 7 help to reinforce the practical interpretation of the Standard and highlight the necessary practical skills for successful interview techniques.
Module 21  
12.30
- Lunch -
13.15
Module 22 		Nonconformity Writng Auditors are measured on their output of which nonconformity descriptions are a major part. Students are introduced to a methodology to help produce meaningful statements that will support the aim of continual improvement.
Module 23 Nonconformity Writing Part 2 (prep. and feedback)
Module 24 Case Study 2 Part 1 (prep. and feedback) This case study pulls together the aspects of developing checklists and interviewing techniques; thus, providing an opportunity for students to plan for and interview members of the organization's management during role play. By collecting evidence, students can base their conclusions on objective data as to whether or not any problems exist with the organization's management system.
Module 25 Case Study 2 Part 2 (prep)
Module 26 Introduction to Examination - Part 2  
18.00 Close for the day  
Day 4 08.00
Module 25 		Case Study 2 (feedback)  
Module 27 Closing Meetings The culmination of an audit is the presentation of the audit findings to the managers of the audited areas. This is mirrored in the course with a role play activity, allowing students the experience of preparing for and delivering a closing meeting in a supportive training environment.
Module 28 Reporting
Module 29 Introduction to Workshop 9 : Closing Meeting (prep) This role play exercise provides students with an opportunity to experience delivering their conclusions to managers with differing management styles
12.30 Lunch
13.15
Module 29 		Closing Meeting (prep. conducting, feedback)
Module 30 Follow-up and Corrective Action Without effective corrective action, the entire audit process has been a waste of time. Students are introduced to a structured corrective action process and helped to judge true effectiveness
Module 31 Review Specimen Exam and intro to Exam  
Module 32 Summary Report (team discussion)  
17.30
Close
Day 5 08.00
Module 33 		First, Second and Third Party Audits: A perspective Audits will support continuous improvement but need to be employed in an environment that will respond to the information gained by the auditors. Some of these key features are discussed to help auditors implement successful audit programmes within their organization.
Module 34 Corrective Action (prep and feedback) Audits provide an opportunity for organizations to identify weaknesses within their systems and effectively correct them. It is important for auditors to understand how to judge effectiveness of corrective action and examples of good and poor actions are discussed.
  Q&A session and Examination intro  
11.15 Examination  
13.15 Course review and close