According to ISO 9001:2015, clause 6.2.1, the organization is required to establish quality objectives at relevant functions, levels, and processes for the quality management system (QMS). The quality objectives must be consistent with the quality policy, measurable, monitored, communicated, and updated as appropriate.
The organization is also required to maintain documented information on the quality objectives, as per clause
7.5.1.
Therefore, in the scenario given, the quality objectives defined by the external consultant are not in alignment with the organization's quality policy, as they are based on those of a competitor, rather than the organization's own purpose, strategic direction, and customer requirements. This creates a mismatch between the organization's vision and goals, and the quality objectives that are supposed to guide and measure the QMS performance. Moreover, the quality objectives are not maintained as documented information, which makes it difficult to communicate, monitor, and update them, as well as to demonstrate evidence of their implementation and achievement.
Hence, the circumstances in which a nonconformity against clause 6.2 of ISO 9001 could be raised are B and C, as they indicate a failure to comply with the requirements of clause 6.2.1. The other options are either irrelevant or not directly related to clause 6.2, as they do not pertain to the establishment and documentation of quality objectives.
References:
ISO 9001:2015(en), Quality management systems - Requirements, clause 6.2.1 and 7.5.1 ISO 19011:2018(en), Guidelines for auditing management systems, clause 6.4.4 and 6.7.2 ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training Course | IRCA Certified | BSI, section "Learning objectives" ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Course Material | 3FOLD Education Centre, module 5 and 6

* Understanding Clause 7.1.5.2 - Measurement Traceability:ISO 9001:2015 requires organizations to ensure that measuring equipment (e.g., spectrometers) is calibrated and traceable to recognized standards. The failure to maintain calibration within valid dates directly violates this clause and raises concerns about the reliability of the measurement results.
* Root Cause of the Nonconformity:The organization failed to plan for the possibility that the calibration service provider (X-TECH) might become unavailable, leading to expired calibration. This indicates inadequate risk-based thinking, which is required under Clause 6.1 of ISO 9001:2015.
* Option Analysis:
* A. Select one sample for external lab analysis to use as an internal standard:Incorrect. While using an internal standard could provide short-term verification of results, this action does not address the root cause (failure to consider risks associated with external providers).
* B. Look for a local company to provide this service:Incorrect. While finding a new local service provider resolves the immediate calibration issue, it does not address the risk of future provider unavailability.
* C. Double-check one out of ten samples externally:Incorrect. This corrective action ensures some quality assurance for batch release but does not resolve the nonconformance related to expired calibration.
* D. Add this issue to the external issue register, assess its associated risk, and plan action to address that risk:Correct. This approach directly addresses the root cause (failure to anticipate the calibration provider leaving) and ensures proper risk management. ISO 9001:2015 emphasizes risk-based thinking under Clause 6.1, requiring organizations to identify risks and opportunities and implement plans to mitigate them.
* Why D is the Best Option:
* By adding the issue to the external issue register, the organization ensures it is monitored and tracked.
* Assessing the risk ensures proactive measures are in place for similar issues in the future.
* Planning actions to address the risk ensures a sustainable solution is implemented, such as identifying multiple service providers or ensuring backup plans for calibration services.
* ISO 9001 References:
* Clause 6.1 (Actions to Address Risks and Opportunities): Requires organizations to consider risks and opportunities that could affect the intended results of the QMS.
* Clause 7.1.5.2 (Measurement Traceability): Mandates that measuring equipment must be calibrated and traceable to ensure valid results.
* Clause 10.2 (Nonconformity and Corrective Action): Requires organizations to determine the root cause of nonconformities and take actions to ensure they do not recur.

According to the ISO 9001:2015 standard, clause 8.7 requires that an organization identify and control any nonconforming outputs that do not conform to the requirements of the customer or other relevant requirements. Nonconforming outputs are any outputs from the process, product or service that do not meet the specified quality criteria. Nonconforming outputs must be dealt with in one or more of the following ways:
Correction of the nonconformity
Segregation, containment, return or suspension of provision of products and services Informing the customer Authorisation for acceptance under concession The organization must also retain documented information on the description of the nonconformity, the actions taken, any concessions obtained, and the identification of the authority deciding the action to resolve the nonconformity.
In this scenario, you have interviewed a line supervisor who is responsible for managing a manual picking line where operators are removing contaminant materials from incoming products. The supervisor has explained that these plastic items are rejected at this stage because they do not meet their processing standards and they can damage their machinery and compromise their quality standards. The supervisor has also mentioned that some of these rejected items are melted down in another process later on and some are disposed of as waste products that cannot be recycled.
Based on this information, you can investigate further by taking two actions:
A: Check the process for handling nonconforming items: You can verify whether there is a documented procedure for identifying, segregating, containing, returning or suspending provision of nonconforming items at this stage. You can also check whether there is a system for informing customers about any nonconforming items that may affect their satisfaction or expectations.
D: Determine what happens to the waste products: You can verify whether there is a documented procedure for disposing of waste products that cannot be recycled as per environmental regulations and customer requirements.
These two actions would help you to determine whether there are any nonconforming outputs at this stage and how they are controlled by the organization.

The actions that should be taken in the context of the audit are:
*Option B: Call the individual(s) managing the audit programme to explain the situation and recommend immediate suspension of certification to protect the integrity of the Certification Body. This option is correct because the auditor has found serious and significant gaps in the QMS processes that affect the health and safety of the patients, which is a major nonconformity that may warrant suspension of certification. The auditor should inform the individual(s) managing the audit programme of the situation and the audit findings, and recommend immediate suspension of certification to protect the integrity of the Certification Body and the credibility of the certification scheme. The auditor should also follow the Certification Body's procedures and rules for suspension of certification and communicate the decision and the consequences to the auditee.
*Option C: Continue with the meeting, present the audit conclusions and inform the DCM that the organisation will receive the audit report in due course. This option is correct because the auditor should not terminate or postpone the closing meeting due to the absence of the Catering Manager, as the DCM is the auditee's nominated representative for the audit. The auditor should continue with the meeting, present the audit conclusions and the audit findings, and inform the DCM that the organisation will receive the audit report in due course. The auditor should also explain the audit outcome recommendation and the suspension of certification, and request the DCM to acknowledge the receipt and understanding of the audit results.
The following options are not correct:
*Option A: Close the meeting immediately after the DCM's response and advise that the issues will be addressed at the next surveillance visit. This option is not correct because the auditor should not close the meeting without presenting the audit conclusions and the audit findings, as this would violate the audit principles of fairness and transparency. The auditor should also not advise that the issues will be addressed at the next surveillance visit, as this would imply that the auditor is accepting the auditee's delay and inaction, and that the auditor is not taking the major nonconformity seriously.
*Option D: Conclude the meeting early and advise that it will be rescheduled once the Catering Manager has returned to work. This option is not correct because the auditor should not conclude the meeting early or reschedule it due to the absence of the Catering Manager, as this would disrupt the audit process and the audit schedule. The auditor should also not wait for the Catering Manager to return to work, as this would delay the communication and resolution of the major nonconformity, and potentially compromise the health and safety of the patients.
*Option E: Recommend that all personnel should be given urgent in-depth training in the QMS. This option is not correct because the auditor should not recommend or prescribe specific corrective actions to the auditee, as this would violate the audit principles of independence and objectivity. The auditor should only report the audit findings and the audit outcome recommendation, and leave the responsibility and authority for determining and implementing the corrective actions to the auditee.
*Option F: Thank the DCM for his time and express an expectation that improvements will be made in the QMS. This option is not correct because the auditor should not thank the DCM for his time and express an expectation that improvements will be made in the QMS, as this would imply that the auditor is satisfied and optimistic with the auditee's performance and response, and that the auditor is not taking the major nonconformity seriously. The auditor should instead express the concern and dissatisfaction with the auditee's QMS processes and the impact on the health and safety of the patients, and communicate the suspension of certification and the need for urgent and effective corrective actions.
References:
*ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for auditing management systems, Clause 6.4.2: Conducting audit activities, Subclause k) and l)
*ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Course Material, Module 5: Conducting an Audit, Slide 20: Closing Meeting
*ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training Course - IRCA Certified, Section 5.5: Closing Meeting
*Lead Auditor Exam Preparation Guide (EPG) Template - PECB, Section 3.2: Exam Content Outline, Subsection 3.2.1: Section 1 - Audit Fundamentals, Subsection 3.2.2: Section 2 - Audit Principles, Subsection
3.2.3: Section 3 - Audit Process, Subsection 3.2.4: Section 4 - Audit Competencies