Selecting the audit team.

The selection of the audit team is usually done by the certification body and not the lead auditor. However, the lead auditor is sometimes given this responsibility or is involved in the process.

As a lead auditor is useful to understand how the audit team should be selected. Selecting the audit team can be done once the audit objectives, scope, criteria, and methods have been agreed to.

For example, you may determine how many auditors need to be on the team, what competencies the auditors will need to have and if any technical specialists are needed.

Guidelines for selection and compensation of audit trams.

Auditor should be able to meet the competence requirement criteria of ISO 17021.

The criteria for selection of auditors should be :

• An understanding of QMS standard.
• An understanding of industrial sector issues.
• Technical knowledge of the activities to be audited.
• Possession of the right personal requirements.
• Experience in management systems audit.
• Availability.

Composition of audit teams.

Each audit team should include a minimum of a lead auditor (Team Leader); the team members should be familiar with Quality Management System principles, applicable standards, supporting guidance documents and possess auditing competence. As required evidence of planning experts with specific knowledge regarding processes, will be included in the audit team to assist the auditors, however they would not be authorized to audit the system independently which is the responsibility of the auditors. 

The Lead Auditor should ensure the competence and availability of the auditors before formally designating the audit tasks and should obtain the following: 

• Authorization for the audit. 
• Provisional scope and objectives. 
• Quality System Documentation Information. 
• Business focus and business process plan 
• Specific Regulatory and Safety requirements 
• Evaluation of competence of auditors, supporting experts and translators. 
• Name of contact, Site, processes, and product details. 
• Any other relevant available information. 

The decision about auditor’s competencies should be consider their knowledge and understanding of the auditee’s business operation, their knowledge and understanding of the audit criteria that they will be auditing against, and their competencies in conducting audits.

Audit team should demonstrate an up-to-date knowledge of the following:

Techniques to ensure compliance with customer requirements including their practical application for that industrial sector. 

Performing quality management system audits. 

Relevant industrial sector guidance or law. 

Another important fact is their personal behavior, and they should have the qualities necessary to allow them to conduct the audit according to the auditing principles set out the module “ understanding auditing standards.”

If you don’t know the auditors before the audit, is best to contact them before the audit by meeting them or mobile them and you need to ask them about their experiences, they are understanding of auditees business and they knowledges skills as an auditor,. This will let you have a better idea about what is the best use in joining an audit.

Lead auditor are sometimes under pressure to conduct an audit with the team of auditors that are available regardless of their competencies or abilities to understand the work. As a lead auditor is your responsibility to make sure that you are comfortable with the team that has been selected. If you feel this is not the case, you should reschedule the audit to a time when properly competent auditors are available, even if this means some business disruption.