QMS Internal Auditor (ISO9001:2015)

Reference Manual for SQMC Students

Version 2 (2020) Revision A (2025).

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Thank you for joining the ISO 9001 Internal Auditor course at the Scottish Quality Management Centre.

This intensive two-day programme is designed to equip delegates with the knowledge and practical skills required to plan, conduct, report on, and follow up internal audits of a Quality Management System in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 and recognised auditing best practice.

This course is developed and delivered by the Scottish Quality Management Centre (SQMC), a long-established, internationally accredited training provider; and its content is aligned with the professional expectations of the Chartered Quality Institute for internal auditing competence and good practice.

This Technical Reference Manual draws upon the internationally recognised guidance for auditing management systems set out in ISO 19011:2018, together with the collective contribution of some of SQMC’s most experienced tutors and associates, past and present.

The content is made freely available to SQMC-trained Internal Auditors and Quality Professionals as a long-term technical reference, supporting effective internal auditing practice throughout their careers.

Acknowledgement of Contributors

SQMC gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the associates listed below (in chronological order of their association with SQMC) — including those who have served as directors of the organisation — whose professional expertise, insight, and written contributions have informed, reviewed, and shaped the content of this Technical Reference Manual.

Introduction & Learning Objectives

This Technical Reference Manual accompanies the ISO 9001 Internal Auditor course delivered by the Scottish Quality Management Centre. The course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills required to audit effectively using ISO 9001:2015 as audit criteria, in accordance with recognised auditing best practice.

Knowledge

By the end of the course, participants should be able to explain:

• the purpose and structure of a Quality Management System;
• the role and application of Quality Management System standards, with particular reference to ISO 9001:2015;
• the principles and purpose of management system auditing;
• the role of internal audits within an organisation’s management system;
• the business benefits that arise from effective implementation, monitoring, and continual improvement of a Quality Management System.

Participants should also be able to explain the role and responsibilities of an internal auditor, including the need to plan, conduct, report on, and follow up internal audits in accordance with the guidance provided in ISO 19011:2018.

Skills

In addition to understanding the theory, participants will develop the skills and confidence required to:

• plan and prepare an internal audit of part of a Quality Management System;
• conduct an audit using ISO 9001:2015 as audit criteria;
• gather and evaluate objective evidence;
• report audit findings clearly and accurately;
• follow up audit results in order to support corrective action and continual improvement.

These skills will be practised and assessed through written exercises, group activities, and simulated audit situations.

The Format of the Course

The ISO 9001 Internal Auditor course is tutor-led and highly interactive, using a variety of learning methods, including discussion, practical exercises, and real-world examples. PowerPoint slides are used sparingly, with emphasis placed on discussion, critical thinking, and practical application.

Participants will work directly with the ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 19011:2018 standards throughout the course. A brief recap of foundational concepts is provided at the outset, before building progressively on this knowledge to develop effective internal auditing competence.

Assessment and Certification

Assessment is continuous and based on participants’ performance in written exercises, practical audit activities, and overall engagement with the course. Those who achieve the required standard will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement by the Scottish Quality Management Centre.

Supporting Documents and Training Materials

Course materials are designed to support both learning during the course and future reference. This Manual contains material that extends beyond what can be covered in the classroom and is intended to serve as a long-term reference tool for SQMC-trained Internal Auditors and Quality Professionals.