Creating Effective and Agile Qualified Auditors

Industry: All Industries

Keywords: Qualified Auditors, Effective, Agile, Training;,Improved Program

Level: All Levels

Discuss the strains on the quality industry to hire and qualify auditors in a quick and effective method. With turnover so high in most industries, we need to go from hire to independent auditor quickly for a return on our investment. Discuss my team's success at implementing qualification cards for auditors, continuous training on a wide variety of topics, and the annual auditor competency reviews.

The success of the auditor qualification program includes a shorter time between hire and viable independent auditor, improved value-added audits/surveillances, and a greater understanding of the purpose of the audit program. Feedback from new hires has been positive in that they understand what steps need to be taken in order to become a qualified auditor.

External customer auditors have commented on the efficiency at which my organization has qualified and documented auditor qualifications. A general overview of the qualification card will include the thought process into each section, basic requirements, who is eligible to sign the qualification card, and who determines final qualification. Also, a breakdown of the various levels of qualification (Auditor, Lead Auditor, Guest Auditor, and Audit Supervisor) is provided.

Presentation will also provide:

A highlight of the current continuous training program for auditors

How to easily invest in their knowledge and determine internal facilitators

How to get auditor “buy-in”

How to find and request Subject Matter Experts to facilitate, improve organization relationships, and gain a better auditor for your organization.

Briefly describe the annual auditor competency evaluation and digital documentation.

Leah M. Nydam

Quality Audit Department Manager, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA, USA

I am currently the Quality Audit Department Manager at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). For the past 7 years, I have been working in the Auditing department, from auditor to manager. Prior to NNS, I served 21 years in the US Navy on nuclear propulsion plants aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and Los Angeles-class submarines. During this time, I was introduced to the Joint Fleet Maintenance Manual (JFFM) and began my love of all things Quality. I have a BS in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University and A Master's in Management from Excelsior College.