COURSE OVERVIEW:

The meaning of this course lies in the professional elevation of laboratory personnel from basic compliance checkers to strategic audit leaders. In the contemporary regulatory landscape, internal auditing is not merely a box-ticking exercise but a vital diagnostic tool that ensures the technical competence and impartiality of laboratory operations. This program provides the authoritative framework required to evaluate complex quality systems against the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard, ensuring that every finding adds tangible value to the organization.

The scope of the training focuses on the psychological and technical dimensions of audit leadership, addressing the nuances of the "Process Approach" to auditing. It covers the planning, execution, and reporting phases of an audit, with a specific focus on gathering objective evidence for technical requirements such as metrological traceability and method validation. Participants will explore the role of the Lead Auditor in managing audit teams, navigating conflict during closing meetings, and verifying the effectiveness of corrective actions in a scientific setting.

The coverage includes a deep investigation into risk-based thinking and the assessment of laboratory impartiality. The course emphasizes the transition from traditional auditing to a more holistic evaluation of laboratory health, including the management of technical records and the security of laboratory information systems. By mastering these leadership protocols, participants will be able to lead internal audit programs that withstand the scrutiny of international accreditation bodies and foster a culture of continuous technical improvement.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

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

• Define the core principles of audit leadership within a laboratory context.
• Interpret ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements from an auditor’s perspective.
• Design a risk-based annual internal audit program for a complex facility.
• Lead opening and closing meetings with professional authority and clarity.
• Utilize advanced interviewing techniques to gather technical evidence.
• Evaluate the technical competency of laboratory staff through witnessing.
• Distinguish between minor non-conformities and systemic quality failures.
• Formulate clear and defensible non-conformity reports (NCRs).
• Assess the laboratory's implementation of metrological traceability.
• Verify the effectiveness and root cause analysis of corrective actions.
• Manage an audit team and coordinate multiple technical assessors.
• Lead the laboratory through the preparation for external accreditation.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This course is intended for Quality Managers, Technical Managers, Senior Scientists, and aspiring Lead Auditors responsible for ISO 17025 compliance.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximize 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:

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