“I believe that this program saves lives,” says PRI Lead Auditor and Trainer Joel Davis
- Aug 24, 2023
What better person to undertake audits and train others than someone who’s sat on the other side of the table? Meet Joel Davis, who was a Nadcap® auditee himself for nine years in a previous role, before contracting with PRI (Performance Review Institute) in 2006.
Talking to PRI Auditors during this period left him thinking that the job might suit him, too. “I liked listening to their stories about the travel and the experiences they’d encountered, both technically and through their adventures away from the audit,” he says. “I love my work now, especially the independence and flexibility of my schedule.”
Experience of quality management
Having worked in aerospace for 40 years, Joel has experience of Quality Management and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Level 3 leadership, research and development, and application responsibilities.
His primary focus for PRI is on audits within the Nadcap program, but he also carries out TPGSM and MedAccred® audits, making sure that companies comply with audit criteria across aerospace, medical device, and transport and power generation manufacturing industries, and meet their contractual customer requirements.
Typical day
Arriving at an auditee’s facility, Joel’s first task is to set up and have an opening meeting, where he agrees the scope of the audit with the auditee. From there, he verifies compliance with the checklists for that day’s activity by talking, witnessing and verifying them with the people involved. He also has a daily closing meeting at the end of each day, which he keeps a little less formal than the opening one. Finally, when the whole audit is done, Joel will have a formal closing meeting with the auditee.
Obtaining accreditation
Here, he can discuss any Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) and brief them on PRI’s requirements for closing the NCRs and obtaining accreditation. “At all times, I try to get people to relax so the audit will flow better,” he says. “I make sure to acknowledge a job well done, as well as telling them when they’re not in compliance.
Great support from the team
When out in the field, Joel can count on great support from the PRI support staff. He believes that so much of the Nadcap program’s success relies on the teamwork of the Task Group, composed of Subscribers, Suppliers, Staff Engineers and the Auditors themselves.
“The PRI staff and Auditors are close – they have to be,” he says. “NDT Staff Engineers are awesome. They’re always available when you need them. The Scheduling personnel work with Auditors to accommodate the complex web of worldwide movement required to handle PRI audits – and they do a good job. All the PRI staff I interact with are a pleasure to deal with.”
Traveling the world
Joel lives in the U.S.A., but his role as a PRI auditor has taken him all over the world. It’s a part of the job that appeals to him, even though he appreciates it might not suit everyone.
“You have to be prepared to travel a lot in this role and, on occasions, be away from your home and your loved ones. At times before COVID-19, I’d visit 11-14 different countries within a year. I’ve been from India or Singapore to the UK and China – all within a month. Now, I limit most of my travel to the U.S.A. and Mexico,” says Joel. “I love meeting new people from various cultures and feel fortunate to have experienced the world’s wonders.”
“This program saves lives…”
Joel feels great pride in being a PRI auditor, a role that he describes as ‘fun and challenging’. “Being a PRI auditor is an experience like no other,” he adds. “The world is out there waiting for you, and you are doing immense good at the same time, helping to protect the safety of passengers and patients. I believe that this program saves lives.”
