COURSE OVERVIEW:

API Lead Auditor Training is a professional development course designed to equip individuals with the skills and methodologies required to conduct high-level audits of mechanical integrity and quality management systems. This program focuses on verifying compliance with API standards and internal corporate procedures, ensuring that inspection programs are not only documented but also technically effective. It provides a structured approach to identifying gaps, assessing risks, and driving continuous improvement within an industrial organization.

The scope of this training encompasses the principles of auditing as defined in ISO 19011, applied specifically to the context of the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. Participants will learn how to prepare for an audit, lead an audit team, and communicate findings to senior management. The curriculum covers the techniques for gathering evidence through interviews, document reviews, and site observations, with a particular focus on the technical requirements of API codes for pressure vessels, piping, and tanks.

Coverage includes the development of audit checklists, the classification of non-conformities, and the evaluation of corrective actions. The course addresses the human side of auditing, including conflict resolution and effective interviewing techniques. By mastering these skills, attendees will be able to perform rigorous audits that verify the health of asset integrity programs, ultimately contributing to a safer and more compliant operational environment.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

1. Explain the principles and objectives of a professional lead auditor.
2. Apply the ISO 19011 auditing guidelines to API-based programs.
3. Plan and schedule a comprehensive audit of a plant inspection department.
4. Develop technical audit checklists for API 510, 570, and 653 compliance.
5. Lead an audit team effectively through all phases of the audit cycle.
6. Conduct professional opening and closing audit meetings.
7. Use effective interviewing techniques to gather objective evidence.
8. Identify and classify major and minor non-conformities.
9. Evaluate the technical adequacy of inspection reports and NDE data.
10. Prepare high-impact audit reports for plant and corporate management.
11. Verify the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.
12. Manage the psychological and interpersonal dynamics of an audit.
13. Execute an audit follow-up process to ensure continuous improvement.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This training is designed for senior inspectors, quality managers, integrity engineers, and corporate auditors who are responsible for evaluating the performance of asset integrity and maintenance programs.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximise the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

The National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants who complete a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.