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Experienced Professional Consultants

As consultants Pillar Management Associates has assisted over 2500 organizations in achieving and maintaining their certifications since 1997.

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Best QMS Lead Auditor Training Solutions

Certified Provider of Exemplar Global Lead Auditor & Internal Auditor Courses, we have trained over 10,000 Lead Auditors.

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Virtual Training & Consulting

Certified Provider of Exemplar Global Lead Auditor & Internal Auditor Courses, we will train your staff remotely. Learn from the best while keeping your staff safe. Contact us to schedule your virtual training or consulting sessions.

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Our Services

Our Capabilities

browserConsulting

Elimination of the no value added costs associated with travel and living expensive

  • Training on relevant topics
  • Exercises to enhance learning
  • Procedures, Policies, Objective Evidence

The Jump Start© Schedules vary depending on the standard that is to be implemented and the starting point of the company. However, all programs when completed produce a comprehensive and fully documented system

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toolboxInternal Auditor

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Our Internal Auditor Program is certified by Exemplar Global. 

The key characteristics of a successful auditor, the design and development of an audit plan, schedule, and audit checklist and report and how to document nonconformances

  • Purpose and Scope of an Internal Quality Audit
  • Basic Auditing Concepts and the Auditing Process
  • Key Characteristics of an Auditor
  • Design and Development of an Audit Plan and Schedule
  • Audit Checklists
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toolsJump Start

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The Jump Start© Program is a practical business approach to establishing an ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System), 50001 (Energy Management System), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System), AS9100 (Aerospace) and IATF 16949 (Automotive).

  • On-site consulting
  • Distance consulting
  • Blended learning approach
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chatCredentials

Qualified trainers for ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, IATF 16949, ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 Exemplar Global-certified lead auditor courses and has facilitated the registration of a large firm with over 5000 employees in twelve international locations.

  • Environmental, Safety, and Health Coordinators
  • Safety Management and a Bronze Certificate in Lean Manufacturing from the Society for Manufacturing Engineers

40 years of extensive background in engineering and management consulting


  • Senior instructors with the American Society for Quality and the Metal Treating Institute
  • Experience in working with organizations in business plan development and quality and environmental management since 1994
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Comprehensive Training

  • ISO 9001/QMS Lead Auditor Training

    This course is comprehensive training in lead auditor techniques, methodology, practices, and skills. It was designed and developed by a team who created and managed an accredited registrar. They know what training is best for lead auditors.

    The course contains a solid body of quality management systems (QMS) auditing knowledge, accumulated from seven years of QMS audits.

    On successful completion of this course and post course assessment, participants will receive a Certificate of Attainment for the following internationally recognized competency units:

    • EXEMPLAR GLOBAL-QM (Quality Management Systems)
    • EXEMPLAR GLOBAL-AU (Management Systems Auditing)
    • EXEMPLAR GLOBAL-TL (Leading Management System Audit Teams)

    The modules above are certified under the EXEMPLAR GLOBAL Training Provider Examination Certification Scheme for quality management system auditors and will enable successful participants to apply to EXEMPLAR GLOBAL for certification as a provisional auditor.

    Highlights of the session include:

    • “Hands-on” training with over 15 class exercises
    • Quality management systems as required by ISO 9001
    • ISO 9001 requirements and intent
    • QMS historical perspective and regulations
    • QMS audit process
    • Evaluating system effectiveness
    • Evaluation of conformance
    • Audit reporting
    • Simulated audit or live audit

    Outcome:

    • An understanding of the ISO 9001 standard’s requirements and intent
    • A certificate of accomplishment ( conditional on passing examination)
    • An understanding of the lead auditors responsibilities
    • How to create and execute an audit plan
    • An understanding of questioning techniques and communications
    • How to make an auditee feel at ease
    • How to determine the effectiveness of a quality management system
    • How to document nonconformances

    Who Should Attend:

    • ISO 9001 Auditors
    • ISO 9001 Implementers
    • Quality Program Managers
  • Review of the ISO 9001 Standard

    Participants will gain a strong working knowledge of the ISO 9001 requirements, implications and interpretations.

    Highlights of the session include:

    • Base Requirements and Objectives of the Standard Management
    • Responsibilities Documentation of the Quality Management System
    • Implementation of the Quality Management System The Registration Process

    Who Should Attend:

    • Executive Managers
    • Managers
    • Quality Assurance Personnel
    • Supervisors
    • Internal Quality Auditors

    Course Length:

    • 8 hours (one-day)
  • Introduction to ISO 9001 for the CEO

    This course is an enlightening perspective on how CEOs and their staff can utilize ISO 9001 as a process improvement tool to gain efficiency in their operations while meeting the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard. It analyzes misconceptions and costs of establishing a process improvement program and how the decisions made while creating a quality management system determines a company’s operating standards. Example situations will show how senior managers must control the future of their company by involving themselves in this critical activity.

    Highlights of the session include:

    • The Importance of the CEO’s involvement
    • Using ISO 9001 as a Tool to Support Business Process Improvement
    • Introduction to ISO 9001 and Overview of the Standard
    • Background and Costs of a QMS
    • Process Improvement Elements and Clauses
    • Specific examples of Process Improvement in various companies
    • Implementation and Delegation of a QMS

    Who Should Attend:

    • CEO
    • Executive Managers
    • Managers

    Outcome:

    • A strategy for implementing ISO 9001 in your company as a cost reduction tool.
    • An understanding of the standard’s requirements.
    • Organizing resources and delegating responsibilities for the program.
    • How to budget program costs and maximize your return on investment.
    • Keys to gaining cooperation from your employees.

    Course Length:

    • Four-hours (1/2 day)
     
  • Defining the Key Parameters of a Quality Management System

    “A Practical Approach to ISO 9001” This is a two-day structured seminar and workshop. The CEO and staff are introduced to the ISO 9001 series of standards. Each of the requirements is described. An interpretation for each is presented. The intent and rationale of each topic are reviewed. Best practices examples for each requirement is illustrated. The participants have then posed questions concerning their proposed system. The answers to the over 200 questions addressing the 20 elements of ISO 9001 standard become the unique defining characteristics of the firms Quality Management System. Each of the decisions is reviewed and possibly challenged by the facilitator who has assessed over 250 other firms Quality Management Systems.

    Highlights of the session include

    • The importance of the CEO’s involvement
    • Using ISO 9001 as a tool to support business process improvement
    • Background and costs of a QMS
    • Process improvement elements and clauses
    • Implementation and delegation of a QMS
    • Improving profits through ISO 9001

    Outcome

    • A strategy for implementing ISO 9001 in your company as a cost-reduction tool
    • An understanding of the standard’s requirements
    • Organizing resources and delegating responsibilities for the program
    • How to budget program costs and maximize your return on investment
    • Keys to gaining cooperation from your employees

    Who Should Attend

    • Executive Management
    • CEO

    Course Length

    • Two-days Note: Since the key management personnel will be attending the session it is suggested that it be looked at as a retreat and held off-site where interruptions will be held to a minimum (weekends are often scheduled for this session).
     
  • Multiple Company Training Program ISO 14001

    This workshop provides customized training programs for companies in a group setting to develop and implement environmental management systems which conform to ISO 14001.

    The participants meet twice a month for six months (12 sessions) with experienced and certified lead auditors. Each day session reviews 1or more elements of the standard and explain the requirements that must be put in practice and possibly documented. At the following session, the procedures created by the attendees at the last training session are critiqued (privately) by the instructors.

    The program includes a one-day pre-assessment audit by a certified lead auditor.

    Benefits

    • Generates significant cost savings for training through economies of scale.
    • Improves a company’s overall environmental programs.
    • Improves and enhances customer satisfaction.
    • Puts standardized processes in place.
    • Allows companies to learn from each other in a collaborative setting while maintaining individual identities.
    • Offers experienced, certified lead auditors as trainers who deliver the valuable hands-on experience and working knowledge of the accreditation process.
    • Provides a structured program that allows a company to create and implement a system with limited financial resources.
    • Allows companies to market themselves as ISO 14001 conforming suppliers.

    Topics

    • Design and development of a quality management system (all applicable elements).
    • Review and evaluation of created practices and procedures by the participants.

    Who Should Attend

    • The training is tailored for environmental personnel, managers, supervisors, and engineers.

    Outcome

    • A fully documented environmental management system for your company at the end of six months.
    • A one-day pre-assessment audit at your company when all the documentation is completed. This audit will be conducted in accordance to a registrar’s procedures.
  • Internal Quality Auditing

    This course is designed to instruct participants how to become internal quality auditors. They will learn basic auditing concepts, the key characteristics of a successful auditor, the design and development of an audit plan, schedule, and audit checklist and report and how to document nonconformances. This course also covers how a well planned internal auditing program can result in continuous improvement.

    Highlights of the session include

    • Purpose and Scope of an Internal Quality Audit
    • Basic Auditing Concepts and the Auditing Process
    • Key Characteristics of an Auditor
    • Design & Development of an Audit Plan and Schedule
    • Audit Checklists
    • Documenting Nonconformances
    • Audit Reports
    • Common Problems in an Internal Quality Audit
    • Internal Quality Audits and Continuous Improvement

    Outcome

    • How to create an internal quality audit program in your company that helps you reduce operating costs.
    • How to select and train auditors.
    • How to create an audit plan.
    • An understanding of questioning techniques and communications.
    • How to make an auditee feel at ease.
    • How to determine the effectiveness of a quality management system.
    • Who Should Attend:
    • Internal Quality Auditors
    • Managers
    • Quality Assurance Personnel
    • Supervisors

    Course Length

    • Two-days. Note: A third day of conducting an actual audit can be added
     
  • ISO 14001/EMS Lead Auditor Training

    This course is comprehensive training in lead auditor techniques, methodology, practices, and skills. It was designed and developed by a team who created and managed an accredited registrar. They are lead auditors and know what training is best for lead auditors.

    A slide presentation visually illustrates an actual company’s environmental aspects, a unique feature only in this course. Additionally, the course contains a solid body of environmental auditing knowledge accumulated from five years of EMS audits.

    On successful completion of this course and post course assessment, participants will receive a Certificate of Attainment for the following internationally recognized competency units:

    • EXEMPLAR GLOBAL-EM (Environmental Management Systems)
    • EXEMPLAR GLOBAL-AU (Management Systems Auditing)
    • EXEMPLAR GLOBAL-TL (Leading Management System Audit Teams)

    The modules above are certified under the EXEMPLAR GLOBAL Training Provider Examination Certification Scheme for environmental management system auditors and will enable successful participants to apply to EXEMPLAR GLOBAL for certification as a provisional auditor.

    Highlights of the session include

    • “Hands-on” training with over 30 class exercises
    • Environmental Management Systems
    • EMS Historical Perspective and Regulations
    • EMS Audit Process
    • Evaluating System Effectiveness
    • Evaluation of Conformance
    • Audit Reporting.

    Outcome

    • A strategy for implementing ISO 14001 in your company
    • An understanding of the standard’s requirements
    • How to create an internal quality audit program in your company
    • How to select and train auditors
    • How to create and execute an audit plan
    • An understanding of questioning techniques and communications
    • How to make an auditee feel at ease
    • How to determine the effectiveness of an environmental management system.

    Who Should Attend

    • ISO 14001 Auditors
    • ISO 14001 Implementers
    • EMS Managers
     

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