Open forum
In the last issue IRCA director Simon Feary (click here) posed the following questions – see below for some reader responses
1. Do you think IRCA’s current certification criteria are effective at evaluating competence?
2. Does the certification criterion include all major categories of auditors who perform management system audits?
3. Do you think it can be improved, and if so, how?
4. If the improvements involve a higher cost, are applicants prepared to accept an increase, and, if so, how much increase?
1. No. Only based on an audit log on which the signature of the directing and guiding lead auditor could be easily obtained is inadequate.
2. Yes, as long as the audit log is genuine.
3. Yes, by examination, which includes both written and hands-on testing. IRCA could establish overseas testing centres and conduct examination for auditor grade, lead auditor grade or maybe certification manager grade, who could endorse on certificate. I have encountered so many incompetent auditors who only socialize with the clients. Some others use their own common sense to audit. These auditors are ruining the industry.
4. The answer could be yes and no. If the certification is statutorily mandatory, the answer will be yes. If it is just a valued added status and could be easily obtained as discussed in question one, the answer is no.
Terence Cheng
1. Yes, the current methods are proven to be of value and with integrity to reflect auditor's competence based on minimum criteria. IRCA has no control over individual auditor's performance after evaluation and releasing the certification/licence number for the auditor's professional use.Unless there will be feedback to IRCA, this is the time that they can have information in the next evaluation period of such an auditor's performance/overall competence.
2. Yes.
3. Improvement should be a continual goal for any organization. I think, improvement can be done on the stringent certification of trainers who offer public training for management system whether their organization has certification to conduct such training or not. This is more focused on the competence of the trainer. IRCA should be visible to organization (customer of certifying body). Somehow, these organizations are not disinterested but just lack the necessary information on how they can be benefited if they are aware of the competence evaluation of their certification body’s auditor.
4. I am not sure if the cost is really significant with the improvements I have mentioned or if it is already in the planning stage or implemented.I have faith that whatever cost it will incur to the applicants, it will be reasonable enough to implement development in the process.
Ma. Valora T Solero
Management system engineer
Lexmark International (Philippines)
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Proactive interaction with major de facto sectoral authorities such as ISPE/GAMP for pharmaceutical engineering vendor qualification.
4. Costs have to be weighed against added commercial value. No pharmaceutical client (including at least eight globals) has shown any knowledge or attached any value to certification over the past ten years.
Nigel de Haas
DH Controls Ltd
1. Yes. I do consider that the certification criteria is quite reasonable, taking into consideration that IRCA is a global certification body. The criteria may not appropriate for everyone, but IRCA has to set up some criteria against which it could be evaluated. I am sure during the course, the certification criteria may have been discussed and looked into by IRCA, if not it should be. Everybody has a different view and is entitled to express it, but IRCA review committee has a broader outlook and ensures a responsible global view toward it.
2. Yes. I do consider major categories are being looked into by IRCA. And also we think that IRCA is taking into consideration the developed and under-developed countries around world (a global approach).
3. There is always room for improvement. IRCA may consider frequent feedback surveys and provide a timely guidance towards enhancement.
4. In this competitive atmosphere nothing can be achieved without cost. I am sure applicants are ready to bear this extra cost. An increase about five to ten per cent is quite reasonable.
Ali Sayed