IATF16949 Lead Auditor and CQI/IRCA

IATF 16949 Lead Auditor Course & CQI/IRCA Accreditation: What You Need to Know

If you work in the automotive supply chain, you’ve almost certainly heard of IATF 16949—the global quality management standard built on ISO 9001 and tailored for automotive production and service parts. Becoming a Lead Auditor against this standard is one of the most impactful ways to elevate your credibility, strengthen supplier performance, and open doors to career opportunities across OEMs and Tier-n suppliers.

This guide walks you through what the IATF 16949 Lead Auditor course covers, how CQI/IRCA accreditation fits in.

Quick refresher: What is IATF 16949?

IATF 16949:2016 defines the requirements for an automotive Quality Management System (QMS). It adds sector-specific clauses (e.g., product safety, traceability, embedded software, and manufacturing process design) to the ISO 9001:2015 framework. Lead auditors need mastery of both ISO 9001 and the IATF add-ons, plus the auditing methods in ISO 19011 and the certification requirements in ISO/IEC 17021. 

What is a Lead Auditor (in practice)?

A Lead Auditor plans, conducts, and leads 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-party audits—scoping the audit, directing the team, evaluating processes using the automotive process approach, reporting nonconformities, and driving closure and continual improvement. The CQI/IRCA Lead Auditor grade also recognizes professionals who have completed an IRCA-approved course and subsequently led full management system audits.

While providers differ, reputable courses are five days and combine workshops, case studies, and a proctored written/practical assessment. You should leave able to:

• Interpret the interplay between ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016 requirements in real processes.

• Apply ISO 19011 (audit planning, sampling, interviewing, reporting) and understand ISO/IEC 17021 implications for certification bodies.

• Lead audit teams, write robust nonconformity statements (cause/effect/evidence), and evaluate corrective actions. 

Who should attend? 

Quality managers, supplier quality engineers, internal/second-party auditors moving toward leadership roles, and consultants working with automotive clients. Many providers also expect familiarity with the Core Tools (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC).

Write to us at info@coursesinc.com for more information.