We’re watching this one closely, but my sources tell me that the Registration Management Committee (RMC) of the AAQG has suspended RABQSA and halted their ability to issue new AS9100 and related auditor certifications. Sources have indicated that it was due a “multiple nonconformities” for which RABQSA failed to respond to in time to prevent full suspension.
Another source told me the problems may not be solely concerning nonconformities, but “other issues” — whatever that means.
This won’t affect currently certified auditors, but will freeze RABQSA from issuing any new ones. Any students awaiting their certificates will likely see this held up until it is resolved.
The RABQSA website is still not updated, and the RMC itself is unlikely to provide a public statement on the matter, as they are notorious for their secrecy (paranoia?). The IAQG has targeted “90% of the supply chain certified” and, years in, is struggling to even achieve a full 1 percent; part of that is due to the dearth of auditors. This has shown itself in long lead times for AS audits, and horror stories from clients regarding scheduling. Auditors routinely “rush” audits, failing to provide audit schedules ahead of time, offloading their report writing to the clients themselves, and conducting truncated closing meetings, where nonconformities are reported by email days or weeks after the audit is finished.
Frustrated with the increased paperwork under AS9101D and IAQG’s refusal to increase audit days for AS9100 Rev C, some auditors are fleeing the auditing pool, with many “retiring out.” Low pay, poor reimbursement schedules, and expectations for 24/7 work are preventing the industry from obtaining new recruits as well.
Add to that mix a shutdown of what is ostensibly the largest auditor certification provider, and it’s a toxic mix.
My gut is telling me that trainers were probably having trouble meeting the onerous demands of AS9101, and RABQSA wasn’t on the ball to enforce them. I wouldn’t be surprised if we, again, come back to AS9101D as the culprit here, but if that proves to be true, don’t expect the IAQG, AAQG or RMC to share any of the blame.
Let’s see how this plays out.
Christopher Paris is the founder and VP Operations of Oxebridge. He has over 35 years’ experience implementing ISO 9001 and AS9100 systems, and helps establish certification and accreditation bodies with the ISO 17000 series. He is a vocal advocate for the development and use of standards from the point of view of actual users. He is the writer and artist of THE AUDITOR comic strip, and is currently writing the DR. CUBA pulp novel series. Visit www.drcuba.world
