Introduction

Note: This course will be available as of March 2025!

This course aims to provide auditors with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to succesfully organise and lead (multi disciplinary) audit teams in audits of internal procedures and processes, but especially in audits of suppliers and other external parties. This will ensure that contracts, SLA’s, regulations and other standards are met.

The initial auditing techiques course focuses on how to audit, how to interview, how to write findings, and how to close findings. This course goes one step further and not only helps the auditor to refine the skills of the previous course but also provide participants with the skills to organise and manage these (internal but especially external) audits and audit teams to reach a succesful outcome.

Course Content

Module 1 – Introduction
A. What is compliance monitoring in aviation?
B. What is an audit and why perform audits?
C. ISO
D. Deming cycle
E. ISO Quality management system
F. Compliance monitoring versus quality

Module 2 – EASA & the management system principle
A. Introduction of the EASA management system and the requirements for Compliance Monitoring
B. Organisational organograms and the key principles
C. EASA Roles and Positions
D. The EASA management System and an integration of Management Systems
E. Compliance and performance oversight
F. Business objectives, key performance indicators and process design

Module 3 – The Audit Process
A. ISO Principles of auditing
B. The components of the audit process

Module 3a – The Audit Process: preparation
A. Reasons for initiating an audit
B. Audit programme
C. Difference between audits and inspections
D. Purpose and scope of the audit
E. Audit programme
F. Improving the audit programme
G. A risk based approach…
H. Prupose and scope of the audit
I. The audit criteria
J. The audit team
K. Different types of audits

Module 3b – The Audit Process: Initialisation
A. Initiating an audit
B. The first team meeting
C. Contact with the auditee
D. Audit Plan
E. Audit Schedule
F. Team meetings
G. Presentation of a case
H. Exercise: make an audit plan and schedule
I. Announcement to the auditee
J. The Audit check list
K. Make an audit check list for an interview
L. Guide person

Module 3c – The Audit Process: Execution
A. Opening meeting
B. Conduct an Opening meeting
C. Audit techniques and investigative skills
D. Interviews
E. Note taking
F. Objective evidence
G. Evaluating audit results
H. Findings
I. Taking notes
J. Audit interview

Module 3d – The Audit Process: Report
A. Writing audit findings
B. Non-conformity classification
C. The audit report
D. Write findings
E. Closing meeting
F. Prepare and conduct closing meeting

Module 3e – The Audit Process: Follow up
A. Correction and corrective action
B. Closing the finding
C. Follow up
D. Overdue findings
E. The last team meeting
F. Summary

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

• Develop Audit plans utilising a Risk-based audit strategy.
• Make a strategy for and manage auditing suppliers.
• Audit new suppliers.
• Risk assess audit findings connected to the new suppliers
• Conduct opening meetings, closing meetings, team meetings.
• Lead a multi disciplinairy audit team.
• Know tools and techniques for root cause analysis.

Who should take this course

Experienced Auditors who:

• would like to make the next step in their career
• would like to professionalise their auditing skills
• carry out external audits
• need to lead multi disciplinairy teams

Pre-requisites

Essential:

• Participants need to have a background or experience in an operational aviation area.
• Participants need to be aviation auditors and have completed an initial Auditing techniques course.
• English language (Level 4) is required.

Duration

5 days, starting at 09:00 on day 1 and ending at approximately 17:00 on the last day.