The revision of ISO 19011:2011 is well underway with the current DIS (Draft International Standard) available for public comment during a consultation phase. The DIS is available for public comments from 4 August 2017 to 26 September 2017.
ISO 19011 is an important International Standard as it provides guidance on auditing management systems including the principles of auditing, managing an audit programme and conducting management system audits. Additionally, it provides guidance on the evaluation of competence of individuals involved in the audit process including the person managing the audit programme, auditors and audit teams.
As such, ISO 19011 is applicable to all organizations that need to conduct internal or external audits of management systems or manage an audit programme. The application of ISO 19011 to other types of audits is possible provided that special consideration is given to the specific competence needed.
It should be noted that the conduct of third-party auditing through certification / registrar bodies is managed through the accreditation process to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 & for environmental management systems, auditor competence is specified in ISO/IEC 17021-2:2016 and for environmental management systems, auditor competence is specified in ISO/IEC 17021-3:2017.
A copy of ISO DIS 19011 is available from ISO and BSi as an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file or hardcopy.
I, strongly, advise commenting on the DIS version of the revised ISO 19011 as this will be the last opportunity to influence the drafting of the International Standard before its final publication later in 2017 / early 2018 by either purchasing a copy or by visiting the BSI Standards Development portal, where it is possible to view the text and to make comments directly to BSI “free of change”.
If you plan to use the BSI Draft Review portal, you should head search for “ISO DIS 19011” and register here for free access.
Whichever method you use, please take time to review the ISO DIS 19011 as this International Standard will have significant influence over the auditing of Management Systems for at least the next five years.
The deadline for comment on ISO DIS 19011 to BSI is 26 September 2017.