QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR TL 9000 CERTIFICATION BODY AUDITORS (CBAs)

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR TL 9000 CERTIFICATION BODY AUDITORS (CBAs)

SECTION 1: GENERAL

Auditors of quality management systems shall, at a minimum, meet the education, training, work experience, audit experience of ISO/IEC 17021, and have the following:

A.      Auditing Experience: Participation in at least four audits for a minimum of 20 days that cover all the elements of the ISO 9001 standard within the last three years and have the ability to cover all the elements as determined by the CB’s audit program manager or equivalent person.

B.      Education: Conform to the Certifications Body’s requirements for maintenance of qualifications, which must include the current version of the TL 9000 Quality Management System Requirements Handbook and TL 9000 Quality Management System Measurements Handbook.

SECTION 2: QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TL 9000 AUDITORS

a) Meet the requirements for auditors noted in Section 1(General).

b) Completed and passed the QuEST Forum sanctioned TL 9000 Quality Management System Requirements and Measurements Auditing training, any required pre-requisite courses, and any supplemental required training.

c) Complete TL 9000 Auditor Apprenticeship Program for Measurements as defined below:

                    I.   Each CB Auditor Apprentice shall observe a TIEA or TL 9000 Lead Auditor conducting a full audit of the collection, validation, and reporting of all measurements applicable to a certified organization as outlined in TL 9000 RHB.

                  II.  After observation is completed by the Apprentice, the Apprentice is required to conduct or lead an audit for a measurement specialty witnessed by a TIEA or TL 9000 Lead Auditor.

                III.  The apprentice observation record and witness record must be approved by the respective TIEA or TL 9000 Lead Auditor and the respective CB. Upon verification of completion of the Apprenticeship Program by the auditor, the CB shall provide the auditor with the Apprenticeship Completion record. The record of completion will be recognized by all other TL 9000 CBs.

(d) Maintenance Requirements for TL 9000 Auditors are Participating in at least three TL 9000 audits per three-year period with a minimum of 2.0 CEUs in topics related to the telecommunications or information & communication technology industries per three-year period, including any additional courses required by the QuEST Forum and, if desired, participation in the QuEST Forum Conferences and / or work group meetings

SECTION 3: QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TL 9000 LEAD AUDITORS

For auditors to be TL 9000 qualified to lead TL 9000 audits, they shall:

a) Meet all of the requirements for auditors as noted in Sections 1 and 2 above.

b) Meet the CB’s qualifications for leading audits.

c) Maintenance Requirements for TL 9000 Lead Auditors:

i. participating in at least six TL 9000 audits per three-year period, acting as audit team leader in at least two of these audits.

ii. Completing a minimum of 3.0 CEUs in topics related to the telecommunications or Information & Communications Technology industry per three-year period, including any additional courses required by the QuEST Forum, and, if desired, participation in the QuEST Forum Conferences and/or work group meetings.

iii. Acting as the audit team leader in an audit witnessed by a TIEA during the first 12 months of each new three-year period.

SECTION 4: QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TIEA:

a) Compliance with the requirements for TL 9000 Auditor (Section 2) and TL 9000 Leader Auditor (Section 3).

b) Actively participate in at least three QuEST Forum activities during the most recent six months.

c) Must have at least two years within the last 5 years of relevant workplace experience (as defined by the NACE code or equivalent method used by the CB) in the Telecommunications/ Information & Communications Technology industries.

d) Performed the role of Lead Auditor in a minimum of 10 TL 9000 audits (certifications, recertifications, or surveillances audits covering each H, S, and/or V specialty/(ies) at least twice), within the past 5 years, with at least one audit in the previous 12 months.

 e) Maintenance Requirements for TIEAs:

i. Participating in at least nine TL 9000 audits per three-year period, including witness audits.

ii. Acting as audit team leader in at least three of the nine audits.

iii. Continuing to actively (see Appendix B) participate in QuEST Forum conference and/or Workgroup meetings/activities. At a minimum, a TIEA is required to participate in six activities per year with no two-quarter gap in participation.

iv. Completing a minimum of 4.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in topics related to the telecommunications or Information & Communications Technology industry per three year period, including:

A.  Any additional courses required by the QuEST Forum.

B.  Participation in the QuEST Forum Conferences and / or work group meetings.