PECB ISO-9001-Lead-Auditor Exam Questions

According to ISO 19011:2018, clause 6.3.3, the audit plan should be reviewed and revised as necessary to address changes that occur during the audit planning. The audit plan should be agreed upon, preferably in writing, by the audit team leader, the audit client and the auditee1. Therefore, if there is a significant change in the auditee's situation, such as the cancellation of all orders for the next week, the audit plan should be reviewed and revised accordingly, with the agreement of all parties involved.

According to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, clause 9.1.4, the certification body should have a process to ensure that the audit team has the competence to achieve the audit objectives, and that the audit methods are appropriate for the scope and complexity of the audit. The certification body should also have a process to ensure that the audit is conducted under reasonable conditions and within a reasonable time frame2. Therefore, if there is a risk that the audit objectives cannot be achieved, or that the audit methods are not suitable, due to the change in the auditee's situation, the certification body should be consulted and informed on how to proceed with the audit.

Therefore, the best action to take is B, ask the certification body you work for how to proceed with the audit. This action will ensure that the audit plan is revised and agreed upon by all parties, and that the audit team has the competence and the methods to conduct the audit effectively and efficiently. The other options are not correct, as they may compromise the quality and validity of the audit:

*A. Start the audit on Monday at ABC's as planned, interviewing the functions that regularly work at the central office, and plan visits to ABC customers wherever they may be working during the following week: This action may not be feasible or acceptable, as it may extend the audit duration and cost beyond the agreed terms, and it may not provide sufficient and appropriate audit evidence to verify the conformity and effectiveness of the auditee's processes. Moreover, this action may not be agreed upon by the audit client and the auditee, and it may not be approved by the certification body.

*C. Start the audit on Monday as planned, interviewing the functions that regularly work at the central office, and visit another customer's premises they cleaned the week before: This action may not be relevant or reliable, as it may not reflect the current performance and condition of the auditee's processes. The audit evidence collected from the previous customer may not be valid or representative of the audit criteria, and it may not address the risks and opportunities associated with the auditee's context and objectives. Moreover, this action may not be agreed upon by the audit client and the auditee, and it may not be approved by the certification body.

*D. Complete the audit but ask the quality manager to clean some windows at the ABC's office, simulating the process they carry out at customers' premises: This action may not be objective or impartial, as it may introduce bias and influence in the audit process. The audit evidence collected from the simulated process may not be accurate or authentic, and it may not demonstrate the actual capability and effectiveness of the auditee's processes. Moreover, this action may not be ethical or professional, as it may compromise the integrity and credibility of the audit and the certification.

According to clause 10.2.1.b of ISO 9001:2015, the organization should evaluate the need for action to eliminate the causes of nonconformities, in order to prevent their recurrence. This means that the organization should identify and address the root causes and contributing factors of the nonconformities, and implement appropriate corrective actions that are effective and proportional to the impact of the nonconformities. In this case, the evidence statement that supports the finding of nonconformance is C, because it shows that the organization did not take effective actions to prevent the recurrence of the spelling errors in the print run, which resulted in repeated customer rejections and dissatisfaction. The other options are not directly related to clause 10.2.1.b, although they may indicate other nonconformities or weaknesses in the organization's QMS. For example, option A may relate to clause 7.2 on competence, option B may relate to clause 8.6 on release of products and services, and option D may relate to clause 7.1 on resources. Reference: ISO 9001:2015, [ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group Guidance on Nonconformity and Corrective Action], ISO 9001 Clause 10. Improvement - ISO-templates.com

Understanding the Purpose of a Quality Management System (QMS):

The primary objective of ISO 9001:2015 is to improve the overall performance of the organization by:

Ensuring consistent delivery of products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Focusing on enhancing customer satisfaction.

Promoting continual improvement of the organization's processes and practices.

Clause 0.1 (General) of ISO 9001:2015 specifies that a QMS enables organizations to achieve better performance by consistently meeting customer needs and improving their processes. It further highlights that continual improvement is a cornerstone of the standard (Clause 10.3).

Option Analysis:

A . Manages the performance:

Incorrect. A QMS provides a framework to manage processes, not directly manage performance. The improvement of performance is an outcome of managing processes effectively.

B . Monitors the performance:

Incorrect. Monitoring is a component of performance evaluation (Clause 9.1) but does not define the overall purpose of the QMS.

C . Dictates the performance:

Incorrect. ISO 9001 does not 'dictate' performance but allows organizations to set their own objectives and improve their operations based on their specific context and goals.

D . Improves the performance:

Correct. The fundamental purpose of a QMS as per ISO 9001 is continual improvement of the organization's performance. This includes improving operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and product/service quality.

Why Option D is Correct:

ISO 9001:2015 emphasizes the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and risk-based thinking, which are designed to drive improvements in organizational performance. Continuous assessment of processes and customer feedback ensures that the organization can adapt, innovate, and improve its effectiveness over time.

Relevant Clauses Supporting the Answer:

Clause 0.1: Purpose of the QMS.

Clause 10.3: Continual improvement ensures that the QMS remains effective and aligned with organizational objectives.

Clause 4.1: Context of the organization, which requires the QMS to align with organizational strategies and improve outcomes.