ISO 10011-2 1991 Audit Standard in Plain English

Guidelines for Selecting Quality Auditors

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ISO 10011-2: 1991

Auditors must be educated 

• Auditors must be reasonably well educated. Auditors must 
  have at least a high school diploma and be able to write and 
  speak clearly and effectively.

ISO 10011-2: 1991

• Auditors must be trained. They should know how to:

  • Use standards to evaluate quality systems.

  • Collect information, evaluate evidence, 
    make observations, and draw conclusions. 

  • Plan, organize, and manage an audit, and 
    prepare and deliver an audit report.

ISO 10011-2: 1991

Auditors must be experienced 

• Auditors must be experienced. They should have:

  • Four years of work experience, including 
    two years in the quality assurance field. 

  • Participated in at least four quality 
    audits covering at least 20 days.

ISO 10011-2: 1991

Auditors must be knowledgeable 

• Auditors must be knowledgeable. Their understanding 
  of quality systems, standards, and audit procedures 
  should be current and accurate.

ISO 10011-2: 1991

Auditors should have character 

• Auditors should have character. They should be:

  • Fair

  • Calm

  • Logical

  • Sensitive

  • Intelligent

  • Analytical

  • Tenacious

  • Respectful

  • Trustworthy

  • Courageous

  • Open-minded

  • Single-minded

ISO 10011-2: 1991

Auditors should have talent 

• Auditors should have talent. They should be able to:

  • Think in general terms. 

  • Make realistic evaluations. 

  • Analyze complex systems. 

  • Stay on track and finish the job.

  • Respect the feelings of all participants. 

  • Resist the pressure to change the truth. 

  • Manage personal and interpersonal stress.

  • Draw rational conclusions on the basis of evidence. 

  • Evaluate evidence in a fair and impartial manner. 

ISO 10011-2: 1991

Auditors should be competent 

• Auditors should be competent. To assure competence:

  • Evaluate auditors at least every three years.

  • Confirm that auditors have current knowledge.

  • Make sure that auditors are trained and retrained.

  • Verify that auditors know all about:

    • Auditing methods and procedures.

    • Quality systems, standards, and requirements.

ISO 10011-2: 1991

Auditors should be selected by an evaluation panel 

• Set up a panel of judges to evaluate auditor 
  qualifications and to select the best candidates. 

  • For an internal audit, panel members should be 
    selected by the auditee organization's management. 

  • For a customer audit, panel members should be 
    selected by the customer or his representative. 

  • For an independent audit, panel members should 
    be selected by a body that certifies auditors.

• Evaluate auditor candidates by:

  • Interviewing the candidates.

  • Examining their written work.

  • Checking with former employers.

  • Observing their work performance.

  • Reviewing their education and training.

ISO 10011-2: 1991

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