FDQ Lead Auditor Course

Course Description

A 4-day course endorsed by FDQ

This course is specifically designed for the food and packaging industry and will provide delegates working towards audits against BRCGS or the ISO series of standards with an understanding of and the skills necessary to audit a complete management system internally and externally.

Video Overview

Play Video: Auditing Refresher Course

Duration

4 days

Who Should Attend?

Those in the food manufacturing, packaging and catering industries who have already completed Auditing Skills training and have auditing experience.

Entry Requirements

No formal entry requirements, but this course is suitable for candidates who have completed our 2-day FDQ Auditing Skills Certificate Course or have a good working knowledge of auditing procedures and management systems.

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

You will be able to demonstrate auditing and interview techniques and understand how to manage and lead meetings. You will possess the knowledge to be able to evaluate and present audit findings and to write and present audit reports correctly. Finally, you will understand how to implement effective corrective actions.

Qualification / Assessment

• There is a 2 ½ hour examination on the final day.
• Successful candidates will achieve the FDQ Lead Auditor 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

* 3 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation plus evening meals Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Sunday night may be added at additional cost if required).

We strongly recommend the accommodation option since Lead Auditor is an intensive course involving some collaborative homework in the evenings.

** Classroom courses only

Understanding the FDQ Lead Auditor course

What is a Lead Auditor?

As the name suggests a Lead Auditor is the person responsible for leading a team of auditors. Lead Auditors have the skills and competence to audit a complete management system against a given set of criteria. In the food industry they are responsible for directing audits against Standards such as the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety and the ISO set of Standards - including ISO 22000, which is also concerned with food safety management.

The remit of a Lead Auditor includes the scheduling of audits according to risk, assigning other audit team members to specific audits and defining the scope and focus of audits. They are also responsible for planning and directing audits, hosting opening and closing meetings, preparing and writing audit reports and following-up to ensure corrective actions have been actioned.

Who is the course for?

The course is aimed at those in the food manufacturing, packaging and catering industries who have already completed an Internal Auditing or Auditing Skills training and already have experience of auditing. In addition delegates should possess a good working knowledge of management systems.

What does the training cover?

Section 3.4 of The BRGS Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 9 is concerned with Internal Auditing. It requires that there is a programme of at least 4 scheduled internal audits per year carried out by ‘appropriately trained, competent auditors’ (Clause 3.4.2). Moreover ‘each internal audit within the programme shall have a defined scope and consider a specific activity or a section of the HACCP or food safety plan.’ Clause 3.5.1.2 also suggests that supplier audit reports are suitable proof of supplier approval. The content of Verner Wheelock’s FDQ Lead Auditor training will assist delegates in meeting those requirements.

The training covers everything you need to successfully carry out an audit or lead an audit team – preparation essentials, useful documents for an audit, the audit process itself and what to do if there is no agreed standard or documented quality system in place. The trainer also demonstrates how to use a checklist effectively and takes delegates through the four steps of the audit itself.

The course also covers meeting preparation, conducting the audit, audit techniques, how to record information during an audit and what type of notes to take. Sometimes the main audit leads to another aspect you feel needs further investigation, so this Lead Auditor training gives guidance on how to pickup an audit trail. Delegates are also advised on conduct during audits, how to manage audit team meetings, how to categorise audit findings and how to chair a closing meeting.

Finally the training concentrates on audit reporting – the format, tone and protocol – follow-ups, root cause analysis and auditing a HACCP system.

A practical auditing experience

This training prepares all delegates for a mini audit which takes place on the third day. This is an opportunity for them to put all that they have learned into practice. Starting with audit planning and the opening meeting, they are given the opportunity to interview staff members about processes, request objective evidence, have an audit team meeting and present key findings at a closing meeting. Delegates are then required to write an audit report to be submitted the next day.

Assessment and Certification

The mini audit is observed by the trainer, who assigns a mark out of 10 to each delegate. There is also a written examination on the final day which is 2.5 hours in duration. Delegates must achieve a combined score of 70% in order to pass the course. Those achieving 90% or higher will be awarded a Distinction. All successful candidates will receive the FDQ Lead Auditor Certificate.

When and where does the course take place?

The FDQ Lead Auditor course can be attended either face-to-face or remotely via Zoom. Face-to-face training takes place at Verner Wheelock’s training centre in Skipton, North Yorkshire, close to the rail and bus stations. All courses 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.

FDQ Lead Auditor is also available as an in-house course. This is a cost-effective option if you have five or more staff to train.