[Q10-Q24] PECB ISO-9001-Lead-Auditor Dumps Updated [Feb-2024] Get 100% Real Exam Questions!

Q10. Which two of the following are the key expected results of a quality management system that conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001:2015?

Consistently provide products that meet customers’ requirements

Decreased number of management system nonconformities

Decreased number of warranty claims

Decreased number of nonconforming products in all stages of the manufacturing cycle

Enhanced customer satisfaction

Increased profits

Q11. You are carrying out an audit at a single-site organisation seeking certification to ISO 9001 for the first time.
The organisation manufactures
cosmetics for major retailers.
You are interviewing the Manufacturing Manager (MM).
You: “I would like to begin by looking at the cleaning controls.”
MM: “We record the cleaning of the equipment at the end of every batch. This document details the minimum cleaning frequency and the procedures to follow for all areas and each item of equipment. The person who carries out the cleaning puts their initial on the document and records the time and date alongside.” Narrative: You sample production records over 3-days and note down evidence of nonconformity as per the table below.

Q12. Audit criteria are a set of requirements used as a reference against which objective evidence is compared.
Which two of the following are not potential audit criteria?

ISO management system standards

Verbal statements by the general manager

Verbal agreements with interested parties

Health and safety notices

Written agreements with interested parties

Commercial advertisements

Organisation’s documented information

Claims made on the organisation’s website

Commitment to follow principles issued by an NGO

Environmental aspects register

According to ISO 19011:2018, clause 3.2, audit criteria are a set of policies, procedures or requirements used as a reference against which objective evidence is compared. Audit criteria are usually selected by the audit client or by agreement between the audit client and the auditee, and they should be appropriate for the audit scope and objectives1. Audit criteria may include, but are not limited to, the following sources2:
*ISO management system standards, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, etc.
*Verbal statements by the general manager or other top management, as long as they are consistent with the documented policies and objectives of the organisation
*Verbal agreements with interested parties, such as customers, suppliers, regulators, etc., as long as they are documented and approved by the relevant authorities
*Health and safety notices, such as posters, signs, labels, etc., that communicate the organisation’s legal obligations, policies, or procedures
*Written agreements with interested parties, such as contracts, orders, specifications, etc., that define the requirements and expectations of the parties involved
*Organisation’s documented information, such as policies, procedures, manuals, records, etc., that describe the organisation’s management system and its processes
*Commitment to follow principles issued by an NGO, such as the United Nations Global Compact, the International Labour Organization, etc., as long as they are relevant to the organisation’s context and objectives
*Environmental aspects register, such as a list of the environmental impacts and risks associated with the organisation’s activities, products, and services Therefore, the two options that are not potential audit criteria are F and H, as they are not reliable or verifiable sources of information, and they may not reflect the actual performance or conformity of the organisation’s management system. Commercial advertisements and claims made on the organisation’s website are forms of marketing communication that may be exaggerated, misleading, or inaccurate, and they are not subject to the same level of scrutiny or approval as the other sources of audit criteria.
References: ISO 19011:2018(en), Guidelines for auditing management systems, What are audit criteria? – ISO Update

Q13. Select six tasks you would expect to be completed at the audit team meeting of a third-party audit team leader and his audit team in preparation for a Closing meeting for a four-day initial certification audit.

Audit team leader informs the individual(s) managing the audit programme that the closing meeting is ready to be held.

Hold daily audit team meeting to review any timetable issues and potential findings and their impact on the audit for other team members.

Final audit team meeting to agree findings and categories including clarification of any uncertainties.

Agree the roles of each audit team member for the closing meeting.

Audit team review any points raised by the auditee nominated representative.

Audit team agree final audit outcome recommendation.

Audit team leader completes final report, including individual findings and certification recommendation.

Audit team complete final version of their individual findings.

Re-audit corrective actions taken to correct findings found during the audit.

Write the audit finding report out when detected and obtain signature of the auditee.

The tasks that are expected to be completed at the audit team meeting of a third-party audit team leader and his audit team in preparation for a Closing meeting for a four-day initial certification audit are:
*Option C: Final audit team meeting to agree findings and categories including clarification of any uncertainties. This option is correct because the audit team meeting is an opportunity for the audit team leader and the audit team members to review and consolidate the audit findings, to ensure that they are clear, accurate, objective, and supported by sufficient audit evidence. The audit team should also agree on the categories of the findings, such as nonconformity, observation, or opportunity for improvement, and resolve any uncertainties or disagreements among the audit team members.
*Option D: Agree the roles of each audit team member for the closing meeting. This option is correct because the audit team meeting is an opportunity for the audit team leader to assign the roles and responsibilities of each audit team member for the closing meeting, such as presenting the audit findings, answering questions, or taking notes. The audit team leader should also ensure that the audit team members are prepared and confident to perform their roles and to communicate effectively with the auditee.
*Option E: Audit team review any points raised by the auditee nominated representative. This option is correct because the audit team meeting is an opportunity for the audit team to review any points raised by the auditee nominated representative during the audit, such as requests for clarification, feedback, or complaints. The audit team should consider the validity and relevance of the points raised and decide how to address them in the closing meeting or in the audit report.
*Option F: Audit team agree final audit outcome recommendation. This option is correct because the audit team meeting is an opportunity for the audit team to agree on the final audit outcome recommendation, based on the audit findings and the audit criteria. The audit team should also consider the implications and consequences of the audit outcome recommendation for the auditee and the certification body, and ensure that the recommendation is consistent and justified.
*Option H: Audit team complete final version of their individual findings. This option is correct because the audit team meeting is an opportunity for the audit team to complete the final version of their individual findings, based on the agreement and feedback from the audit team meeting. The audit team should ensure that their individual findings are written in a clear, concise, and factual manner, and that they include the audit criteria, the audit evidence, and the audit conclusion. The audit team should also submit their individual findings to the audit team leader for review and approval.
*Option I: Re-audit corrective actions taken to correct findings found during the audit. This option is correct because the audit team meeting is an opportunity for the audit team to re-audit the corrective actions taken by the auditee to correct the findings found during the audit, if applicable and feasible. The audit team should verify the effectiveness and adequacy of the corrective actions and update the audit findings accordingly. The audit team should also document the results of the re-audit and communicate them to the auditee.
The following options are not correct:
*Option A: Audit team leader informs the individual(s) managing the audit programme that the closing meeting is ready to be held. This option is not correct because this task is not part of the audit team meeting, but part of the communication between the audit team leader and the individual(s) managing the audit programme. The audit team leader should inform the individual(s) managing the audit programme that the closing meeting is ready to be held after the audit team meeting, when the audit team has completed all the tasks and is ready to present the audit results to the auditee.
*Option B: Hold daily audit team meeting to review any timetable issues and potential findings and their impact on the audit for other team members. This option is not correct because this task is not part of the final audit team meeting, but part of the daily audit team meetings that are held during the audit. The daily audit team meetings are opportunities for the audit team to review the progress and performance of the audit, to identify and resolve any issues or problems, and to coordinate and adjust the audit plan and activities as needed.
*Option G: Audit team leader completes final report, including individual findings and certification recommendation. This option is not correct because this task is not part of the audit team meeting, but part of the audit reporting process. The audit team leader should complete the final report, including the individual findings and the certification recommendation, after the closing meeting, when the audit team has received and considered the feedback and comments from the auditee. The audit team leader should also ensure that the final report is reviewed and approved by the appropriate authorities before issuing it to the auditee and the certification body.
*Option J: Write the audit finding report out when detected and obtain signature of the auditee. This option is not correct because this task is not part of the audit team meeting, but part of the audit evidence collection and documentation process. The audit team should write the audit finding report out when detected and obtain the signature of the auditee during the audit, when the audit team has observed and verified the audit evidence and has communicated the audit finding to the auditee. The signature of the auditee does not indicate acceptance or agreement with the audit finding, but only acknowledgement of receipt.
References:
*ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for auditing management systems, Clause 6.4.2: Conducting audit activities, Subclause i) and j)
*ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Course Material, Module 5: Conducting an Audit, Slide 19: Audit Team Meeting
*ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training Course – IRCA Certified, Section 5.4: Audit Team Meeting
*Lead Auditor Exam Preparation Guide (EPG) Template – PECB, Section 3.2: Exam Content Outline, Subsection 3.2.1: Section 1 – Audit Fundamentals, Subsection 3.2.2: Section 2 – Audit Principles, Subsection
3.2.3: Section 3 – Audit Process, Subsection 3.2.4: Section 4 – Audit Competencies

Q14. You are conducting a third-party Stage 1 audit at ABC Ltd, a single-site organisation that manufactures wooden furniture. You interview the Technical Director to learn more about the organisation. The Technical Director explains that they have had a successful year and that obtaining ISO 9001 certification will support the further growth of the business. You ask for an overview of the organisation’s structure and its interrelationships with external interested parties.
The Technical Director shows you a document detailing all business processes and interrelationships. You notice in this document that another organisation called Teak Ltd manufactures wooden furniture on behalf of ABC Ltd. The Technical Director confirms this capability has been accounted for in the scope of the quality management system. You learn that the furniture manufactured by Teak Ltd has accounted for 40% of the sales revenue over the previous 12 months.
Which two of the following options best describe how you would plan the audit of the interrelationship with Teak Ltd during the Stage 2 audit at ABC Ltd?

Verify Teak Ltd supply arrangements as described in the ABC Ltd quality management system

Verify if Teak Ltd are certified to ISO 9001

Verify the controls concerning customer property implemented by Teak Ltd

Verify how ABC Ltd evaluates the performance of Teak Ltd

Verify the quality management system at Teak Ltd by conducting an audit at their site

Verify whether the design processes of Teak Ltd comply with ISO 9001

Q15. Select the term that best describes the purpose of retaining documented information in a quality management system to ISO 9001.

To facilitate auditing for proof of conformity to the standard.

To safeguard the integrity of the quality management system.

To support the operation of the processes of the quality management system.

To provide confidence in the effectiveness of the quality management system.

Q16. You work for an organisation, ‘A’, which provides packaged food to the public. You are asked to lead a team (you as the leader and two other auditors) to audit a supplier, ‘B’, which provides packaging materials to your organisation. It is 4 p.m. and the audit is close to an end; you are having an internal meeting with the team to decide what will be presented to the auditee during the Closing meeting.
The Closing meeting was scheduled
for 5 p.m.
You, as audit team leader, audited top management, the laboratory, and the storage of raw materials.
Auditor 1 audited the two manufacturing lines and dispatch areas.
You to Auditor 1: “What findings would you report?”
Auditor 1: “When reviewing the Dispatch records, I noticed that during the morning two different trucks (Number 011 and 025) delivered the same batch number of the product (Batch 33555). Truck 011 left the plant at 9.15 am and Truck 025 left the plant at
11.30 am. Procedure P-02 Rev.3 says
that trucks should carry a complete batch. The batch number, once on the truck, is captured using a QR device.” You: “OK, what do you think?” Auditor 2: “I think that this is a nonconformity.” You: “OK. How would you describe the evidence on which the nonconformity will be based”?
Identify which one of the following statements best describes the identified nonconformity.

Dispatch personnel are not fully aware of the need to conform to written procedures.

Dispatch personnel do not always carry out its activities in conformance with Procedure P-02 rev 3.

The batch 33555 was delivered split in two different trucks (011 and 025).

A product delivered to the client was not identified as required in P-02 Rev 3.

Q17. Whistlekleen is a national dry cleaning and laundry company with 50 shops. You are conducting a surveillance audit of the Head Office and are sampling customer complaints. You find that 80% of complaints originate from five shops in the same region. Most of these complaints relate to damage to customer laundry. The Quality Manager tells you that these are the oldest shops in the company. The cleaning equipment needs replacing but the company cannot afford it at the moment. You learn that the shop managers were told to dismiss most of the claims on the basis of the poor quality of the laundered materials.
On raising the matter with senior management, you are told that there are plans to replace the equipment in these shops over the next five years.

Q18. In a third-party audit to ISO 9001, select two options of when the organisation is required to act in response to reported findings.

A recommendation is given in the report.

A finding of good practice is reported.

An opportunity for improvement is raised.

A major non-conformity is raised.

A finding of conformity is reported.

A minor non-conformity is raised.

According to ISO 19011:2018, clause 6.6.2, a nonconformity is the non-fulfilment of a requirement. A nonconformity can be classified as either major or minor, depending on the nature and extent of the deviation from the audit criteria. A major nonconformity is a nonconformity that affects the ability or the integrity of the organization’s management system to achieve the intended results. A minor nonconformity is a nonconformity that does not affect the ability or the integrity of the organization’s management system to achieve the intended results, but is a deviation from the audit criteria1.
According to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, clause 9.4.9, the organization is required to analyze the cause and describe the specific correction and corrective actions taken, or planned to be taken, to eliminate detected nonconformities, within a defined time. The organization is also required to provide the certification body with records and evidence of the implementation and effectiveness of the correction and corrective actions taken.
The certification body will then verify the correction and corrective actions taken by the organization and decide on the certification status2.
Therefore, the two options of when the organization is required to act in response to reported findings are D and F, as they indicate the presence of nonconformities that need to be corrected and prevented from recurring.
The other options are not correct, as they do not require the organization to act in response to reported findings:
*A. A recommendation is given in the report: A recommendation is a suggestion for improvement that is not related to a nonconformity. A recommendation is not binding for the organization and does not affect the certification status. The organization may choose to accept or reject the recommendation, but it is not required to act on it.
*B. A finding of good practice is reported: A finding of good practice is a positive observation that indicates a strength or a best practice of the organization’s management system. A finding of good practice is not related to a nonconformity and does not affect the certification status. The organization may choose to acknowledge or share the finding of good practice, but it is not required to act on it.
*C. An opportunity for improvement is raised: An opportunity for improvement is a potential area where the organization’s management system can be enhanced or optimized. An opportunity for improvement is not related to a nonconformity and does not affect the certification status. The organization may choose to pursue or ignore the opportunity for improvement, but it is not required to act on it.
*E. A finding of conformity is reported: A finding of conformity is a confirmation that the organization’s management system fulfils the audit criteria. A finding of conformity is not related to a nonconformity and does not affect the certification status. The organization may choose to celebrate or communicate the finding of conformity, but it is not required to act on it.
References: ISO 19011:2018(en), Guidelines for auditing management systems, ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015(en), Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems
– Part 1: Requirements

Q19. The following are stages of an audit, put them in the order they would be conducted.

Explanation:
Establishing the audit programme objectives
Determining and evaluating the audit programme risks and opportunities
Establishing the audit programme
Initiating the audit
Preparing all audit activity
Conducting the audit activities
According to ISO 19011:2018, clause 5, the audit programme is a set of one or more audits planned for a specific time frame and directed towards a specific purpose. The audit programme includes all activities necessary to plan, organize, and conduct the audits. The audit programme management involves the following steps1:
Establishing the audit programme objectives: The audit programme objectives define the intended outcomes of the audit programme, such as verifying conformity, evaluating performance, identifying improvement opportunities, etc. The audit programme objectives should be aligned with the strategic direction and policies of the organization and the needs and expectations of the interested parties.
Determining and evaluating the audit programme risks and opportunities: The audit programme risks and opportunities are the factors that can affect the achievement of the audit programme objectives, such as changes in the internal or external context, availability of resources, competence of auditors, etc. The audit programme risks and opportunities should be identified, analyzed, and evaluated to determine the appropriate actions to address them.
Establishing the audit programme: The audit programme is established by defining the audit programme scope, criteria, methods, and resources. The audit programme scope defines the extent and boundaries of the audit programme, such as the processes, functions, sites, activities, etc. that will be audited. The audit programme criteria are the set of policies, procedures, or requirements used as a reference for the audits. The audit programme methods are the techniques used to conduct the audits, such as interviews, observations, document review, sampling, etc. The audit programme resources are the human, technical, and financial resources needed to implement the audit programme.
Initiating the audit: The audit initiation is the process of formally establishing the arrangements for an individual audit within the audit programme. The audit initiation involves contacting the auditee and the audit client, confirming the audit objectives, scope, and criteria, and obtaining the necessary information and access for the audit.
Preparing all audit activity: The audit preparation is the process of developing the audit plan and the audit work documents for an individual audit. The audit plan is a document that provides the basis for agreement regarding the conduct of the audit, such as the audit schedule, the audit team, the audit methods, the audit language, the audit report, etc. The audit work documents are the records that provide evidence of the audit activities, such as the audit checklist, the audit notes, the audit findings, etc.
Conducting the audit activities: The audit activities are the processes of collecting and verifying audit evidence and evaluating it against the audit criteria to make the audit conclusions. The audit activities include the opening meeting, the communication during the audit, the roles and responsibilities of the audit team and the auditee, the audit evidence collection and verification, the audit findings generation and recording, the closing meeting, and the audit report preparation and distribution.
References: ISO 19011:2018(en), Guidelines for auditing management systems

Q20. Select the word that best completes the sentence:

Q21. Select the term which best describes the quality management system process of modifying a non-conforming product to bring it within acceptance criteria.

Concession

Correction

Corrective action

Preventive action

Q22. A Health Trust has contracted with Servitup, a catering services organisation which has been certified to ISO
9001 for 1 year. It provides services to ten, small rural
hospitals in remote locations involving purchase and storage of dry goods and fresh produce, preparing meals and loading heated trolleys for ward service by hospital staff. An auditor is conducting the first sole surveillance audit at one site with the Deputy Catering Manager (DCM).
At the closing meeting attended solely by the DCM, the auditor informs him that he has found numerous gaps in the QMS processes which lead him to consider recommending suspension of the organisation’s certification. He is particularly concerned with the evidence that patient health is being adversely affected by produce stored beyond its safe consumption date, poor kitchen hygiene and undercooked meals. The DCM says that he cannot make any decisions about these issues in the absence of the Catering Manager due to illness but will write everything down and report to the Catering Manager.
Which two actions should you take in the context of the audit?

Close the meeting immediately after the DCM’s response and advise that the issues will be addressed at the next surveillance visit.

Call the individual(s) managing the audit programme to explain the situation and recommend immediate suspension of certification to protect the integrity of the Certification Body.

Continue with the meeting, present the audit conclusions and inform the DCM that the organisation will receive the audit report in due course.

Conclude the meeting early and advise that it will be rescheduled once the Catering Manager has returned to work.

Recommend that all personnel should be given urgent in-depth training in the QMS.

Thank the DCM for his time and express an expectation that improvements will be made in the QMS.

The actions that should be taken in the context of the audit are:
*Option B: Call the individual(s) managing the audit programme to explain the situation and recommend immediate suspension of certification to protect the integrity of the Certification Body. This option is correct because the auditor has found serious and significant gaps in the QMS processes that affect the health and safety of the patients, which is a major nonconformity that may warrant suspension of certification. The auditor should inform the individual(s) managing the audit programme of the situation and the audit findings, and recommend immediate suspension of certification to protect the integrity of the Certification Body and the credibility of the certification scheme. The auditor should also follow the Certification Body’s procedures and rules for suspension of certification and communicate the decision and the consequences to the auditee.
*Option C: Continue with the meeting, present the audit conclusions and inform the DCM that the organisation will receive the audit report in due course. This option is correct because the auditor should not terminate or postpone the closing meeting due to the absence of the Catering Manager, as the DCM is the auditee’s nominated representative for the audit. The auditor should continue with the meeting, present the audit conclusions and the audit findings, and inform the DCM that the organisation will receive the audit report in due course. The auditor should also explain the audit outcome recommendation and the suspension of certification, and request the DCM to acknowledge the receipt and understanding of the audit results.
The following options are not correct:
*Option A: Close the meeting immediately after the DCM’s response and advise that the issues will be addressed at the next surveillance visit. This option is not correct because the auditor should not close the meeting without presenting the audit conclusions and the audit findings, as this would violate the audit principles of fairness and transparency. The auditor should also not advise that the issues will be addressed at the next surveillance visit, as this would imply that the auditor is accepting the auditee’s delay and inaction, and that the auditor is not taking the major nonconformity seriously.
*Option D: Conclude the meeting early and advise that it will be rescheduled once the Catering Manager has returned to work. This option is not correct because the auditor should not conclude the meeting early or reschedule it due to the absence of the Catering Manager, as this would disrupt the audit process and the audit schedule. The auditor should also not wait for the Catering Manager to return to work, as this would delay the communication and resolution of the major nonconformity, and potentially compromise the health and safety of the patients.
*Option E: Recommend that all personnel should be given urgent in-depth training in the QMS. This option is not correct because the auditor should not recommend or prescribe specific corrective actions to the auditee, as this would violate the audit principles of independence and objectivity. The auditor should only report the audit findings and the audit outcome recommendation, and leave the responsibility and authority for determining and implementing the corrective actions to the auditee.
*Option F: Thank the DCM for his time and express an expectation that improvements will be made in the QMS. This option is not correct because the auditor should not thank the DCM for his time and express an expectation that improvements will be made in the QMS, as this would imply that the auditor is satisfied and optimistic with the auditee’s performance and response, and that the auditor is not taking the major nonconformity seriously. The auditor should instead express the concern and dissatisfaction with the auditee’s QMS processes and the impact on the health and safety of the patients, and communicate the suspension of certification and the need for urgent and effective corrective actions.
References:
*ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for auditing management systems, Clause 6.4.2: Conducting audit activities, Subclause k) and l)
*ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Course Material, Module 5: Conducting an Audit, Slide 20: Closing Meeting
*ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training Course – IRCA Certified, Section 5.5: Closing Meeting
*Lead Auditor Exam Preparation Guide (EPG) Template – PECB, Section 3.2: Exam Content Outline, Subsection 3.2.1: Section 1 – Audit Fundamentals, Subsection 3.2.2: Section 2 – Audit Principles, Subsection
3.2.3: Section 3 – Audit Process, Subsection 3.2.4: Section 4 – Audit Competencies

Q23. An audit team leader arrives at a printing company to carry out a Stage 2 audit for a certification body. At a meeting with the Quality Manager, she is told that they have won their biggest contract from a computer manufacturer to print and compile computer documentation packages. The Quality Manager wants the ISO
9001 certificate to cover the new contract.
During the audit, a team member found that some print jobs had been rejected by several clients over some months due to spelling errors in the print run. The Print Manager blames the new employees they had to take on because of a big contract.
The auditor finds that the responsibility for checking spelling errors is placed on the printer that sets up the print run.
In line with the policy of the certification body, the audit team raise improvement opportunities in the audit report. Which three of the following options would represent acceptable opportunities for improvement in the report?

Operational planning activities may benefit from a clearer risk-based approach.

The organisation needs to delay its certification to gain more experience of the QMS.

The responsibility for checking printing needs to be independent of the operators.

A business consultant can be recommended for advice on improving operations.

A plan to determine why the errors occur and to prevent them.

An intensive training plan that involves all production personnel.

The recruitment process to include spelling tests to filter out unsuitable candidates.

More process time needs to be allocated to the new employees.

Q24. An internal auditor of a manufacturer of polystyrene packaging products for the electronics industry raised a nonconformity against section 10.3 of ISO 9001 in Report IA202. The nonconformity (NC 3) stated:
“The reject rate of the finished product of 9.7% needs improvement as it doesn’t meet the stated objective of top management of 5%.” As the third-party auditor reviewing the internal audit process, you come across the nonconformity. For corrective action, the Quality Manager conducted an investigation into the reject rates. He reported that the collection baskets for products ejecting from the moulding machines were not large enough. About 6% of products fell onto the wet and dirty factory floor. Management stated that replacing the baskets was too costly and ordered the Maintenance Manager to ensure that the floor was kept clean and dry to prevent rejects. The auditor later checked the factory floor, which was wet and dirty in places.
From the following nonconformities, select three that the auditor could raise to ISO 9001.

10.3 – The organisation did not continuously improve. Reject rates were unchanged.

7.1.4 – The factory environment is not suitably maintained to prevent dirty products.

7.1.1 – The organisation failed to provide the required resources to prevent nonconforming products.

9.2.2 – Report IA202 contained a poorly worded nonconformity (NC 3).

8.6 – Dirty products were released to the customer.

7.3 – Staff were not aware that products were falling onto the factory floor.

10.2.1 – Conduct of an investigation was not sufficient to understand the cause of the nonconformity.

8.5.1 – Production operations were not properly controlled to avoid reject products.

The auditor could raise the following nonconformities to ISO 9001 based on the scenario:
*Option A: 10.3 – The organisation did not continuously improve. Reject rates were unchanged. This option is correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 10.3 requires the organization to improve the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the quality management system. The organization did not demonstrate any improvement in reducing the reject rate of the finished product, which was a stated objective of top management. The corrective action taken by the organization was not effective in addressing the root cause of the problem and preventing its recurrence.
*Option B: 7.1.4 – The factory environment is not suitably maintained to prevent dirty products. This option is correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 7.1.4 requires the organization to determine, provide and maintain the environment necessary for the operation of its processes and to achieve conformity of products and services.
The organization did not ensure that the factory floor was clean and dry, which affected the quality of the products and increased the risk of nonconformity.
*Option C: 7.1.1 – The organization failed to provide the required resources to prevent nonconforming products. This option is correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 7.1.1 requires the organization to determine and provide the resources needed for the establishment, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of the quality management system. The organization did not provide adequate collection baskets for the products ejecting from the moulding machines, which resulted in products falling onto the factory floor and becoming nonconforming.
The following options are not correct:
*Option D: 9.2.2 – Report IA202 contained a poorly worded nonconformity (NC 3). This option is not correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 9.2.2 does not specify the requirements for the wording of nonconformities in internal audit reports. The nonconformity (NC 3) stated by the internal auditor was clear and relevant to the audit criteria and audit evidence. The issue is not with the report, but with the corrective action taken by the organization.
*Option E: 8.6 – Dirty products were released to the customer. This option is not correct because ISO
9001:2015 clause 8.6 requires the organization to implement planned arrangements, at appropriate stages, to verify that the product and service requirements have been met. The scenario does not indicate that the dirty products were released to the customer, but that they were recalled and repaired then returned to the customers. The issue is not with the release, but with the production process and the environment.
*Option F: 7.3 – Staff were not aware that products were falling onto the factory floor. This option is not correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 7.3 requires the organization to ensure that the persons doing work under its control are aware of the quality policy, relevant quality objectives, their contribution to the effectiveness of the quality management system, and the implications of not conforming with the quality management system requirements. The scenario does not indicate that the staff were not aware of these aspects, but that the management did not provide adequate resources and environment for the staff to perform their work. The issue is not with the awareness, but with the management responsibility and resource provision.
*Option G: 10.2.1 – Conduct of an investigation was not sufficient to understand the cause of the nonconformity. This option is not correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 10.2.1 requires the organization to react to the nonconformity and, as applicable, take action to control and correct it and deal with the consequences. The scenario indicates that the Quality Manager conducted an investigation into the reject rates and identified the cause of the nonconformity. The issue is not with the investigation, but with the corrective action taken by the management.
*Option H: 8.5.1 – Production operations were not properly controlled to avoid reject products. This option is not correct because ISO 9001:2015 clause 8.5.1 requires the organization to implement production and service provision under controlled conditions. The scenario indicates that the production operations were controlled by the moulding machines, which ejected the products into the collection baskets. The issue is not with the production operations, but with the size of the collection baskets and the condition of the factory floor.
References:
*ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems – Requirements
*ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Course Material, Module 6: Reporting Audit Findings, Slide 14: Writing Nonconformity Statements
*ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training Course – IRCA Certified, Section 6.2: Reporting Audit Findings
*Lead Auditor Exam Preparation Guide (EPG) Template – PECB, Section 3.2: Exam Content Outline, Subsection 3.2.1: Section 1 – Audit Fundamentals, Subsection 3.2.2: Section 2 – Audit Principles, Subsection
3.2.3: Section 3 – Audit Process, Subsection 3.2.4: Section 4 – Audit Competencies