ISO 9001:2015 Transition Training Opportunities

Updated: 09/02/2015

Revised plans for the format of SQMC's ISO 9001:2015 Transition courses have been drawn up, and the first of these single day workshops is scheduled for 17th June, 2015.

With the advent of the new 2015 version of the central International Standard for Quality Management Systems, ISO 9001, due to be published by the end of this year (2015), comes the requirement for previously-trained Quality auditors to update their auditing qualification.  

Whenever a major Standard changes like this, Certification Bodies traditionally allow a grace period of three years for Registered organisations to "transition" their Management System to the latest edition of that particular Standard.  Likewise, staff trained to the previous version will have a similar grace period in which they can "transition" their personal auditing qualification; and they do this satisfactorily by attending Transition training provided by an IRCA accredited training body, such as SQMC.

Certification Bodies understand that the process of re-writing and implementing procedures of a Quality Management System can be lengthy and complicated (hence the probable three year grace period), however auditors looking to make a head start can do so even before the ISO 9001:2015 document is released (I expect this will be in December).  Certificates of Transition training are generally accepted for Registration and compliance purposes when the training is delivered to the Final Draft of the International Standard (the "FDIS"), and this is due any time from March onwards.  (If I were a betting man, my money would be on May/June!)  

Quarterly opportunities to update at the Scottish Quality Management Centre

During our surveillance audit by IRCA last December, I gleaned some helpful 'insider knowledge' from our Training Assessor.  This guidance - coupled with input from our Technical Director, Ron Rivans - allowed us to confidently adjust our format for the Transition courses and condense the training requirements into a single day.  This makes it a more practical and affordable solution for our customers.  Those signing up will learn about "Annex SL" - which is the new paradigm for all future Management Systems.  You'll also discover the new possibilities to simplify your existing Quality Management System, plus the two major clauses not featured in previous issues of ISO 9001: Management of Risk, and the Context of the Organisation.  Our workshop will run to the specification required by the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA), and will cost £399 + vat.  However, if you are updating an SQMC qualification gained between 2008 and 2015, then you are eligible to do so for just £299 + vat.

The 2015 Transition events are scheduled for:

• June 17th
• September 16th
• December 2nd

If you have any questions about 2015, 2018, or anything else - please leave your comment below.

Remember - it is advisable to take your Auditor training to the version of the Standard you are familiar working with, and then updating your qualification later on.  All Auditor qualifications gained to both ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 are valid and acceptable until 2018, allowing auditors an ample 3 years to transition to the newer version.  SQMC-trained auditors will be eligible for an automatically-reduced training fee whenever your decide to update.