Auditing in a Maintenance Environment

EASA Part 145 organisations are required to have an effective internal audit process. This practical 3 day course covers audit management and auditing techniques to enable the delegate to plan, manage and deliver an effective, best practise audit process in the maintenance environment, supporting both business objectives and regulatory compliance.

Participants will understand the relationship between the quality policy, quality manual, safety management system, procedures and supporting records. The course will focus on practical evaluation techniques specific to aviation maintenance quality management systems.

Aviation Maintenance - The Requirement to Audit

Safety, quality and reliability are critical principles in aviation maintenance. Failures or deficiencies can have serious consequences potentially leading to loss of life or substantial financial implications.

Part-145.A.30(e) requires that "the organisation shall establish and control the competence of personnel involved in any maintenance, management and/or quality audits" where "competence must include an understanding of the application of human factors and human performance issues appropriate to that person's function in the organisation".

Course Objective

By the end of this 3 day course participants will:

• Know how to plan internal maintenance audits and how to interact with audit teams to achieve effective outcomes.
• Understand the structure of the standard and its requirements
• Identify objective, impartial evidence and know how to collect and record it
• Be able to write factual and effective audit reports, and summarise daily sessions
• Understand how to raise NC's (non-conformance) and expectations for closure

Auditors must be familiar with auditing techniques and the criteria they are auditing against. What auditors observe is not always straightforward or obvious, so they must be able to judge whether the intent (reason for the requirement) is being met or addressed.

This course equips the quality auditors with the knowledge and training to perform important audit tasks. It emphasizes the skills necessary to conduct internal maintenance quality audits and covers aerospace/aviation requirements and standards.

Participants will understand the relationship between the quality policy, quality manual, safety management system, procedures, and supporting records. Participants will focus on evaluation techniques specific to aviation maintenance quality management systems.

Training Package

The course package includes the following:

• 3 days training
• Course training notes /handouts
• Certification on completion of course

Who Should Attend

Suitable for all personnel involved in Quality Management Systems. Particular application to Nominated Postholders and others who need to understand and ensure that the audit process provides them with sufficient assurance of the adequacy and effectiveness of the operations in relation to regulatory compliance..

• Maintenance Auditors
• Maintenance Managers
• Accountable, Senior and Departmental managers
• Quality managers
• Other personnel requiring awareness of the auditing process

Organisational Benefits 

• Provide input for management decisionss
• Keep management informed of actual or potential risks
• Identify opportunities for improvement
• Assess personnel training effectiveness
• Provide visible management support of the quality, environment, and safety programmes
• Ensure ongoing compliance and conformity to regulations and standards
• Determine system and process effectiveness