FDQ Auditing Skills
Training Course

Course Description

This highly interactive 2-day course provides the theory, practical skills and confidence necessary to conduct an effective audit. This course has been endorsed by the FDQ Awarding Body and leads to the FDQ Auditing Skills Certificate.

Video Overview

Play Video: Auditing Refresher Course

Duration

2 days

Who Should Attend?

Anyone who is required to carry out internal, supplier or third-party audits.

Entry Requirements

No formal qualifications are required

Course Delivery / Format

Classroom

Delivered face to face at our training centre in Skipton, North Yorkshire UK.

Directions to our training centre

Remote

Delivered Live and online so you'll require a computer and Internet connection

Full details and logging in information given before the start of the course

Course Structure & Content

Learning Outcomes

This course will give you an understanding of the importance of auditing and the role of the auditor. By the close of the training, you will understand the application of auditing the auditing process. Additionally, you will know how to collect objective evidence and evaluate and report findings.

Qualification / Assessment

Multiple choice test at the end of day 2 with successful participants awarded with the FDQ Auditing Skills Certificate

Course Fee

Dates & Availability

All course fees are payable in advance.

Course fee includes:

• Course binder and notes
• Lunch and refreshments*
• FDQ exam fee and certificate

* Classroom courses only

Progession

FDQ Lead Auditor Certificate or FDQ Supplier Auditing Certificate

Understanding the FDQ Auditing Skills course

Like it or not, auditing is necessary in a food manufacturing or catering environment. Whether you are required to perform an internal audit or are preparing for a third-party audit by BRCGS or a major retailer, you need to make sure that you have the necessary training and understanding. Indeed, the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 9, Clause 3.4 requires that there is ‘a scheduled programme of internal audits’ with ‘at least 4 different audits spread throughout the year’. It states that the audits should be carried out by ‘appropriately trained, competent auditors’ (Clause 3.4.2), with each internal audit having ‘a defined scope’ which considers ‘a specific activity or a section of the HACCP or food safety plan.’

Verner Wheelock’s Auditing Skills course, endorsed by FDQ, provides the theory, practical skills and confidence necessary to conduct an effective audit, and so meet the BRCGS requirements. It gives delegates an understanding of the importance of auditing and the role of the auditor. By the close of the intensive 2-day course attendees will comprehend the application of auditing and the auditing process. The training will also demonstrate how to collect objective evidence, evaluate it and report findings.

Who is the course for?

Although the course is food industry-focused, auditing principles and process are the same for any industry. This course is therefore suitable for anybody who is required to undertake internal, supplier or third-party audits.

What does the training cover?

There are four sections to the Auditing Skills course.

1. The first section covers what an audit is; the responsibilities of an auditor; different types of audit; benefits and disadvantages of audits and standards and audit objectives.
2. Section two goes into how to undertake the audit itself. This includes planning and preparation; developing audit documentation such as checklists; conducting the audit; how to ask open questions and collect and analyse objective evidence.
3. Section three is concerned with the evaluation and reporting of results. You will understand how to write the audit report and categorise findings into major and minor non-conformances, observations and suggestions for improvement. When you have completed the three sections you will have been taken through the entire auditing process from planning, opening meeting, the audit itself, closing meeting, report writing and follow-ups.
4. Section four puts the theory into practice with a series of group exercises based around documentation from a fictional food manufacturing company.

Audit training delivered by qualified auditors

All Verner Wheelock auditing trainers have several years’ experience of auditing in a food industry environment. They bring the training to life by providing real-life examples which helps to cement learning and generate discussion between delegates. Attendees are also encouraged to ask questions relating to their own experiences.

Assessment and Certification

At the end of the second day of training there is a short examination. This comprises 20 multiple choice questions to be completed within 30 minutes. The pass mark is 14 /20. Anyone achieving 19 or 20 marks will be awarded a Distinction. Successful candidates will receive the FDQ Auditing Skills Certificate.

At the close of the course you will understand the different elements of auditing and should feel confident to undertake an audit as a member of an audit team.

When and where does the course take place?

If you prefer face-to-face training, you can attend in person at Verner Wheelock’s training centre in Skipton, North Yorkshire, close to the rail and bus stations. Alternatively you can attend the Auditing Skills course remotely via Zoom. Auditing Skills courses are scheduled regularly throughout the year. They begin promptly at 9.30am and finish at around 4.30pm each day.

The latest course dates can be found by viewing our training calendar. For those attending in person lunch, and refreshments are included in the course fee. A course binder containing notes is provided for all delegates.

If you have five or more delegates to train in Auditing Skills, you might find it more cost-effective and convenient to book an in-house course.

Next steps

Verner Wheelock offers a Supplier Auditing course which dives deeper into the process of auditing suppliers. The next progression is the FDQ Lead Auditor course which will give you an understanding of the skills necessary to audit a complete management system internally and externally.