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Training content
Overview
BRCGS Internal Auditor Training is designed to provide organisations with the knowledge and practical skills required to plan, conduct and report effective internal audits and carry out post-audit follow-up activities within the scope of BRCGS standards and product safety management system requirements.
The language of the training is Turkish. The training is delivered online. The training provider is BRCGS.
About the Training
The training covers the purpose and fundamental principles of internal auditing, auditor roles and responsibilities, development of the audit programme, risk-based audit planning, audit preparation, review of documents and records, on-site observations, personnel interviews, evaluation of objective evidence, formulation of audit findings, reporting of non-conformities and follow-up activities.
Who Should Attend?
- Quality managers and quality personnel
- Technical managers and technical personnel
- Operations managers
- Food and product safety team members
- Internal auditors
- Personnel responsible for the internal audit programme
- Production and process personnel
- Personnel involved in implementing BRCGS standards
- Employees of organisations preparing for BRCGS certification audits
Objectives and Outcomes
The aim is to enable participants to understand internal audit principles correctly, develop risk-based internal audit programmes, conduct audits impartially and systematically, evaluate objective evidence, and prepare clear, accurate and evidence-based audit reports.
By the End of the Training
Participants will be able to:
- Explain the purpose and fundamental principles of internal auditing.
- Define the duties and responsibilities of an internal auditor.
- Develop a risk-based internal audit programme.
- Determine the audit scope, criteria and objectives.
- Plan and conduct an internal audit.
- Evaluate documents, records and on-site practices.
- Use effective auditor questioning and interview techniques.
- Evaluate objective audit evidence.
- Report non-conformities clearly and accurately.
- Evaluate corrective action and audit follow-up processes.
Programme and Method
Overview of Internal Auditing
- Purpose of internal auditing
- Role of internal auditing in the management system
- First-, second- and third-party audits
- Internal audit requirements in BRCGS standards
- Audit principles
- Risk-based audit approach
Roles and Responsibilities of the Auditor
- Duties of the auditor
- Impartiality and independence
- Confidentiality
- Objective approach
- Professional conduct
- Auditor competence
- Auditor responsibilities
Auditor Attributes and Communication Skills
- Effective communication
- Active listening
- Questioning techniques
- Open- and closed-ended questions
- Interview management
- Professional conduct
- Managing difficult situations
Establishing the Internal Audit Programme
- Annual internal audit programme
- Identification of areas to be audited
- Risk-based audit frequency
- Evaluation of previous audit results
- Process and organisational changes
- Planning auditor assignments
Audit Planning
- Audit objectives
- Audit scope
- Audit criteria
- Audit duration
- Selection of the audit team
- Preparation of the audit plan
- Preliminary review of relevant documents
Preparing Audit Checklists
- Review of standard requirements
- Preparation of checklist questions
- Process-based checklists
- Development of risk-based questions
- Evaluation of previous non-conformities
- Effective use of checklists
Opening Meeting
- Explanation of the audit objectives and scope
- Confirmation of the audit plan
- Identification of communication channels
- Identification of responsible persons
- Explanation of the audit process
Conducting the Audit
- On-site evaluation of processes
- Review of documents and records
- Site observations
- Personnel interviews
- Verification of practices
- Sampling methods
- Recording findings
Review of Documents and Records
- Procedures and instructions
- Plans and programmes
- Control records
- Training records
- Monitoring and verification records
- Corrective action records
- Evaluation of whether documents are up to date
Site Audit
- Facility and equipment checks
- Personnel practices
- Hygiene and working conditions
- Process controls
- Storage and dispatch practices
- Comparison of practices with documentation
- Collection of objective evidence
Auditor Questioning Techniques
- Open-ended questions
- Closed-ended questions
- Follow-up questions
- Verification questions
- Effective interviews with personnel
- Avoiding leading questions
- Cross-verification of information
Evaluation of Objective Evidence
- Concept of objective evidence
- Observation
- Record
- Document
- Personnel interview
- Physical evidence
- Cross-verification of different types of evidence
Formulating Audit Findings
- Identification of conformities
- Identification of non-conformities
- Establishing the relationship between evidence and requirements
- Writing findings objectively
- Avoiding comments and assumptions
- Confirming findings with the auditee
Writing Non-conformities
- Identification of the requirement
- Specification of objective evidence
- Formulation of the non-conformity statement
- Clear and comprehensible reporting
- Evaluation of recurring non-conformities
- Preparation of non-conformity records
Closing Meeting
- Presentation of audit results
- Explanation of findings
- Confirmation of non-conformities
- Explanation of corrective action expectations
- Identification of follow-up activities
- Closure of the audit
Audit Reporting
- Structure of the audit report
- Clear and concise reporting
- Accurate and factual statements
- Incorporation of objective evidence into the report
- Classification of findings
- Recording the audit outcome
Root Cause and Corrective Actions
- Difference between correction and corrective action
- Evaluation of the non-conformity
- Root cause analysis
- Preparation of the corrective action plan
- Responsibilities and timescales for actions
- Prevention of recurrence
Audit Follow-up Activities
- Review of corrective actions
- Evaluation of evidence
- Closure of non-conformities
- Verification of the effectiveness of actions
- Follow-up audits
- Monitoring recurring non-conformities
Evaluation of Internal Audit Performance
- Analysis of internal audit results
- Non-conformity trends
- Recurring findings
- Effectiveness of the audit programme
- Evaluation of auditor performance
- Continual improvement opportunities
Preparation for BRCGS Audits
- Incorporation of BRCGS requirements into the internal audit programme
- Pre-certification internal audits
- Follow-up of previous BRCGS audit findings
- Site and document preparation
- Identification of system weaknesses
- Preparation for third-party audits
Case Studies
- Developing a sample internal audit plan
- Preparing an audit checklist
- Practice in auditor questioning techniques
- Evaluation of objective evidence
- Exercises in writing non-conformities
- Preparing an audit report
- Corrective action follow-up scenarios
Training Method
The training is delivered through subject presentations, workshops, audit scenarios, case studies, questioning exercises, objective evidence evaluations, writing non-conformities and preparing sample internal audit reports.
Attendance and Certificate
Certificate Rule
A certificate of attendance is issued to all participants whose attendance has been confirmed. To receive a certificate of achievement, participants must achieve a passing grade in the examination at the end of the training; participants who use all their examination attempts but do not pass will be issued a certificate of attendance.
FAQ and Resources
Who is the BRCGS Internal Auditor Training suitable for?
It is intended for operations, quality and technical personnel responsible for planning, conducting and following up internal audit programmes, as well as personnel who will conduct internal audits against BRCGS requirements within their organisations.
What is the main objective of the training?
The objective is to enable participants to plan and conduct an effective internal audit, evaluate objective evidence, prepare accurate, fact-based audit reports and carry out post-audit follow-up activities.
Does the training include practical activities?
Yes. The training includes workshops, interactive case scenarios and practical activities covering audit planning, questioning, evaluation of objective evidence, writing non-conformities and audit reporting.
Is there an examination at the end of the training?
Yes. An assessment examination is conducted at the end of the training.
References
- BRCGS Internal Auditor Course Materials
- BRCGS Global Standards
- BRCGS Product Safety Management Guidance
- ISO 19011 Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems
- Relevant BRCGS guidance documents and guidelines