Auditor Competency

David Brackston

Technical Director

BRC Global Standards

Agenda

• What makes a good auditor

• BRC Requirements for auditors

• Developments in auditor competency

• Auditors – the future.

Auditors

• Auditors are the public representatives for the Standard and for the certification body.

• Decisions effect– the commercial future of a site– the safety of the public– brand protection – confidence in a Standard or certification body

What makes a good auditor

GFSI Working

Group

Auditing skills

• Audit planning

• Questioning techniques

• Time keeping

• Collecting and recording information

• Sampling techniques

• Analysis of audit findings

• Audit report writing

•

Behaviour and system thinking

• Interpersonal behaviour – Interview technique– Managing conflict– Audit leadership

• Systems Thinking– Critical thinking / problem solving– Root cause analysis

• Ethics

Technical Knowledge

Knowledge of

•The audit standard and its requirements

•Food safety

•The product sector and technology

•HACCP

•Legislation

•Quality Management Systems

BRC Requirements

• Degree or higher education in Food or a Bio Science

• Minimum 5 years Food industry experience

• Lead Assessor trained

• HACCP

• BRC Standards Training (3 days)

And then……

• Minimum of 10 audits experience – (5 of which must be supervised BRC audits)

• Sign off audit with experienced senior auditor

• Auditor profile and category knowledge provided to the BRC for vetting and approval to audit.

And once qualified…

• Witnessed audits from senior auditor within the Certification Body

• All audit reports reviewed

• Maintain knowledge on legislation , product and technological developments

• Re-training and examination with each change of the Standard

BRC Next steps in developing auditor competence

• Sector specific auditor competence– Specific technical knowledge– Identification of tools to improve knowledge– Tools for assessing knowledge

• Development of programmes for continuos Professional Development (CPD)

GFSI – Focus

• Working group in place for 2 years reviewing auditor competence.

• Developed a core set of skills and knowledge

• Proposals being examined to formally assess auditor skills for qualification

The future for auditors?

• There remains a shortage of good highly qualified auditors

• We need a greater recognition for auditors– Recognised training path into auditing– Professional status– Financial rewards– Work life balance– Career progression

Questions?