ISO-9001-Lead-Auditor Exam Dumps - PECB ISO 9001 Questions and Answers

Understanding the Purpose of a Quality Management System (QMS):The primary objective of ISO 9001:2015 is to improve the overall performance of the organization by:

Ensuring consistent delivery of products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Focusing on enhancing customer satisfaction.

Promoting continual improvement of the organization’s processes and practices.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

According to ISO 19011:2018, Clause 6.4.9 (Audit Conclusions & Reporting):

One consolidated audit report should be drafted based on all team members’ findings.

Each auditor does not draft separate reports (B) unless explicitly required.

Thus, A is the correct answer.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

A horizontal audit examines one process across multiple departments to assess consistency.

Thus, A is the correct answer.

In this scenario, the organisation A has two plants, A1 and A2, but the production in A2 was discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the plant was rented to another organisation B. There are no A employees working in A2, and the organisation A expects to reassume production in A2 as soon as possible. Therefore, the appropriate action to plan the internal audit of A’s quality management system is:

•Interview the A2 plant manager, now working in Plant A1: This action involves interviewing the person who is responsible for the management and operation of the plant A2, and who is currently working in the plant A1. The interview should aim to gather information about the status and condition of the plant A2, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality management system, the arrangements and agreements with the organisation B, and the plans and actions to resume production in the plant A25 . This action is relevant and necessary for the internal audit, as it can help to assess the readiness and effectiveness of the quality management system, and to identify any gaps or nonconformities that need to be addressed.

The other options are not appropriate actions to plan the internal audit of A’s quality management system, according to the web search results from my internal tool. They are:

•Visit Plant A2 to interview personnel of company B: This action involves visiting the plant A2 and interviewing the personnel of the organisation B, who are not related to the organisation A and who are not part of the quality management system. This action is irrelevant and unnecessary for the internal audit, as it can not provide any evidence or information about the conformity and improvement of the quality management system of the organisation A5 .

•Visit Plant A2 to interview B’s quality manager: This action involves visiting the plant A2 and interviewing the quality manager of the organisation B, who is not related to the organisation A and who is not part of the quality management system. This action is irrelevant and unnecessary for the internal audit, as it can not provide any evidence or information about the conformity and improvement of the quality management system of the organisation A5 .

•Visit Plant A2 to interview A’s security personnel and B’s maintenance department: This action involves visiting the plant A2 and interviewing the security personnel of the organisation A and the maintenance department of the organisation B, who are not directly involved in the quality management system. This action is irrelevant and unnecessary for the internal audit, as it can not provide any evidence or information about the conformity and improvement of the quality management system of the organisation A5 .

Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

Auditors must focus on key processes that impact QMS effectiveness to ensure audit risks are minimized.

Clause References:

ISO 19011:2018, Clause 6.3 – Managing Audit Risk: Auditors should prioritize critical processes to obtain reasonable assurance.

Why is the Correct Answer A?

Some processes are critical (e.g., production quality, customer complaints handling).

If these material processes fail, the QMS could collapse.

Why are the Other Options Incorrect?

B (Needs of internal parties) → Important, but not the primary focus for reducing audit risk.

C (Previous audit results) → Useful for improvement but does not directly reduce current audit risks.

D (Financial risks) → ISO 9001 focuses on quality risks, not financial risks.

In a third-party certification audit, auditors are responsible for maintaining confidentiality as part of their professional duties. Here’s how they can demonstrate it:

A. Adhere to the CQI Professional Code of Conduct: The CQI (Chartered Quality Institute) Code of Conduct outlines ethical principles, including confidentiality. Auditors must adhere to professional standards, ensuring sensitive information is protected and not disclosed improperly.

B. Confirm the confidentiality arrangements with the auditee regarding the use of mobile devices/cameras: Before using mobile devices or cameras, auditors must seek explicit permission from the auditee and agree on confidentiality terms, preventing unauthorized recording or sharing of sensitive information.

Options C, D, and E involve breaching confidentiality and are not acceptable practices in an ISO 9001:2015 certification audit. Sharing sensitive information, removing evidence without consent, or discussing it with unauthorized parties violates audit principles and the standard's confidentiality requirements​.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

ISO 9000:2015 defines quality as "the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics of an object fulfills requirements."

Clause 3.6.2 (Quality) confirms this definition.

Quality is determined by how well an object (product, service, or process) meets defined requirements (customer, regulatory, or internal).

The other options do not align with the official ISO definition:

Option A refers to performance capability but does not define quality.

Option C describes work conditions, not quality.

Option D focuses on efficiency rather than fulfilling requirements.

According to the ISO 9001:2015 standard, clause 6.2.1 requires organizations to establish quality objectives at relevant functions, levels, and processes needed for the quality management system. The quality objectives must be consistent with the quality policy and the strategic direction of the organization. The quality objectives must also be measurable, monitored, communicated, and updated as appropriate.

In this scenario, the Quality Manager of XYZ Corporation has set quality objectives for every employee in the organization except top management. This has created a lot of resistance to the QMS, and the Chief Executive is asking questions about the cost and the method of setting objectives. The Quality Manager asks for your opinion as an auditor on whether this is the correct method of setting objectives.

As an auditor, you cannot provide advice to the organization on how it should operate its QMS. Your role is to assess the conformity and effectiveness of the QMS against the requirements of the standard and the organization’s own policies and objectives. Therefore, you should respond with the following options:

B. Advise the Quality Manager to read the ISO 9001 standard and interpret in relation to the organization’s requirements: You can suggest that the Quality Manager should familiarize himself with the requirements of clause 6.2.1 and understand how they apply to his organization. He should also consider the context and the needs and expectations of interested parties when setting quality objectives. He should ensure that the quality objectives are aligned with the quality policy and the strategic direction of the organization.

C. Advise the Quality Manager that you will raise an opportunity for improvement if the quality objectives are not addressed properly: You can inform the Quality Manager that you will evaluate the quality objectives during the audit and check whether they meet the requirements of clause 6.2.1. If you find any gaps or weaknesses in the quality objectives, you will raise an opportunity for improvement to help the organization improve its QMS. You will also verify whether the quality objectives are monitored, communicated, and updated as appropriate.

D. Inform the Quality Manager that you will comment on the subject in your audit report: You can inform the Quality Manager that you will document your findings and observations on the quality objectives in your audit report. You will also provide a summary of the audit results and any recommendations for improvement. You will also indicate the level of conformity and effectiveness of the QMS.

These three options would help you to maintain your impartiality and professionalism as an auditor and to provide constructive feedback to the organization

Audit Evidence and Applicable ISO 9001:2015 Clause 8.3 Extracts

Half of all new products launched in the past 12 months were late. The Product Development Manager explains he has not got enough people on his team to cope with the demand for new products.→ ISO 9001 Clause 8.3.2 e) – “…internal resource needs for the design and development of products and services…”

The Product Development Manager explains many changes are made to cosmetic formulations during product development owing to retailer feedback. Only when confirmed by the retailer is the agreed formulation documented on SWIFT.→ ISO 9001 Clause 8.3.5 – “…retain documented information on design and development changes…”

The Product Development Manager explains that the customer confirms their approval to proceed with a new formulation by email. These emails are kept on SWIFT.→ ISO 9001 Clause 8.3.6 – “…retain documented information on design and development outputs…”

The Product Development Manager shows you evidence of consumer trials that are carried out for some new products before a full-scale launch.→ ISO 9001 Clause 8.3.4 d) – “…conducted to ensure that the resulting products and services meet the requirements…”

The Product Development Manager explains that an approved external laboratory is used to perform shelf-life stability trials on some formulations during product development.→ ISO 9001 Clause 8.3.2 e) – “…external resource needs for the design and development of products and services…”

ISO 9001:2015 Clause 8.3 (Design and development of products and services) requires organisations to plan, control, review, verify, validate, and document design and development activities to ensure products meet requirements.

Explanation of clause alignment:

Clause 8.3.2 e) requires the organisation to determine both internal and external resource needs. Lack of personnel causing late launches directly evidences internal resource shortfalls, while the use of an external laboratory demonstrates control of external resources.

Clause 8.3.5 requires organisations to control design and development changes and retain documented information describing those changes, which is demonstrated by controlled updates in SWIFT following retailer confirmation.

Clause 8.3.6 requires retention of documented information on design and development outputs, including customer approvals, which are evidenced by stored emails in SWIFT.

Clause 8.3.4 d) requires design and development activities such as verification and validation, ensuring outputs meet requirements. Consumer trials prior to launch clearly meet this requirement.

ISO-aligned conclusion:

The evidence provided demonstrates structured control of product design and development, including planning, resourcing, change management, validation, and retention of documented information, all mapped directly to ISO 9001:2015 Clause 8.3 requirements.

Understanding Clause 6.2 of ISO 9001:2015:Clause 6.2 (Quality Objectives and Planning to Achieve Them) specifies that organizations must:

Establish measurable and relevant quality objectives consistent with the quality policy (Clause 6.2.1).

Include objectives applicable to product/service conformity and customer satisfaction.

Document these objectives and their planning as documented information (Clause 6.2.1 & 6.2.2).

Plan how to achieve the objectives, including defining actions, resources, responsibilities, timelines, and methods for evaluation.

Analysis of Options:

A. Quality objectives are not being implemented by the organisation's personnel:Incorrect. While implementation is critical, this relates more to operational aspects rather than the direct requirements of Clause 6.2. Implementation issues would typically raise concerns under Clause 9.1 (Performance Evaluation).

B. The consultant has not interpreted ISO 9001 correctly:Incorrect. The consultant's interpretation of ISO 9001 is irrelevant in terms of Clause 6.2 compliance. The focus is on whether the organization aligns with the requirements, not the consultant's role.

C. Establishing quality objectives did not include top management:Incorrect. While top management involvement is vital for QMS effectiveness (Clause 5.1), this is not a direct requirement of Clause 6.2. Top management alignment is implied but not explicitly mandated for establishing quality objectives.

D. Quality objectives were not established in alignment with the organisation's quality policy:Correct. Clause 6.2.1 requires that quality objectives be consistent with the organization’s quality policy, ensuring they reflect its purpose, strategic direction, and commitment to continual improvement. Misalignment would constitute a nonconformity.

E. The organisation cannot afford to undertake quality objectives all at once:Incorrect. Financial constraints are not directly addressed in Clause 6.2. The clause focuses on planning to achieve objectives, which includes defining the necessary resources but does not demand achieving all objectives simultaneously.

F. Quality objectives are not maintained as documented information:Correct. Clause 6.2.1 specifically requires that quality objectives be maintained as documented information. Failure to document the objectives is a direct violation of this clause.

Why Options D and F Are Correct:

D: Misalignment between the quality objectives and the quality policy directly violates Clause 6.2.1, which mandates that objectives support the strategic direction of the organization.

F: Lack of documentation for quality objectives breaches the requirement to maintain them as documented information under Clause 6.2.1.

Relevant References:

Clause 6.2.1: Establishing quality objectives aligned with the quality policy.

Clause 6.2.2: Maintaining documented information for quality objectives and planning to achieve them.

Clause 5.1.1: Top management's responsibility to ensure alignment between the QMS and strategic direction.