This course is designed to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence required to plan, prepare, conduct and report internal audits against the IATF 16949:2016 automotive quality management standard. The practical emphasis and high tutor-to-delegate ratio ensures a substantial level of individual guidance and support.

Delegates will gain an understanding of the IATF 16949:2016 standard, including its relationship with ISO 9001:2015 and the Annex SL high-level structure. The course also addresses how risk-based thinking is embedded throughout the standard and how auditors should apply this approach when planning and conducting audits.

A key element of the course is practical audit application, including audit planning, non-conformity writing and corrective action follow-up. Customer Specific Requirements (CSRs) and the relevance of automotive core tools to internal auditing are also covered.

Before the course commences, delegates will receive a copy of the IATF 16949:2016 Technical Specification standard, included in the course fee.

This course is suitable for:

• Quality professionals responsible for planning, managing or conducting internal audits within an automotive quality management system.
• Newly appointed internal auditors who need to develop practical audit skills and standard knowledge.
• Quality engineers and quality managers whose teams are subject to IATF 16949 internal audits and who want to understand the audit process.
• Supply chain professionals involved in second-party supplier audits who require a grounding in IATF 16949 requirements.

A working knowledge of quality systems within the automotive sector is beneficial, as is any prior auditing experience. However, the course does not require delegates to be practising auditors. Instead, it is designed to build competency from an informed foundation.

Delegates who are completely new to IATF 16949 may benefit from completing the IATF 16949 Fundamentals eCourse before attending. Those looking to progress beyond internal auditing into lead auditor responsibilities should explore our IATF 16949 Lead Auditor Training.

The course is structured across two days and covers the following areas:

- IATF 16949:2016 Requirements: Understanding key clauses, automotive-specific requirements and their intent.

- Annex SL and ISO 9001:2015: The high-level structure of management system standards and its application to IATF 16949.

- Risk-Based Thinking: How risk management is incorporated into the standard and applied during audits.

- Process-Based Auditing: Audit planning techniques, including the use of Turtle diagrams and process approaches.

- Audit Planning and Preparation: Developing audit programmes, plans and checklists.

- Conducting Internal Audits: Gathering evidence, interviewing auditees and evaluating conformity.

- Non-Conformity Writing and Reporting: Recording findings, preparing audit reports and communicating results.

- Corrective Action and Close-Out: Verifying implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions.

- Customer Specific Requirements (CSRs): Understanding and auditing customer-specific requirements.

- Automotive Core Tools Awareness: Understanding APQP, FMEA, SPC, MSA and PPAP within the audit process.

On completing this course, delegates will be able to:

- Understand the structure, requirements and intent of IATF 16949:2016 and its relationship with ISO 9001:2015
- Apply the principles of risk-based thinking and the process approach to planning and conducting internal audits
- Use the Turtle diagram to plan process-based audits and identify audit risks
- Plan and conduct a structured internal system audit in line with IATF 16949:2016
- Write clear, objective non-conformities and manage corrective action close-out
- Audit Customer Specific Requirements (CSRs) effectively
- Demonstrate competency in internal auditing to meet IATF 16949:2016 clause 7.2.3 requirements

These outcomes equip delegates with the practical and theoretical grounding required to establish and maintain an effective internal audit programme a mandatory requirement of IATF 16949:2016 certification.

On successfully completing this course, delegates receive an IATF 16949:2016 Internal (1st Party) Auditor Training Certificate of Attendance underwritten by the UK IATF Oversight Office the UK's IATF-recognised oversight body.

This certificate provides objective evidence that the delegate has completed approved IATF 16949 internal auditor training, supporting compliance with the auditor competency requirements of IATF 16949:2016 clause 7.2.3.

Delegates also receive a copy of the IATF 16949:2016 Technical Specification standard as part of the course fee.

Looking to progress further? Our IATF 16949 Lead Auditor Training qualifies delegates to plan and lead first and second-party audits and meets the auditing pre-requisite for VDA 6.3 Process Auditor Training, which is available as a 5-day or 4-day course for those seeking manufacturing process audit skills.