IATF 16949
What is IATF?
- IATF 16949 defines the criteria for an automotive-based QMS with the goal to become 3rd party registered.
- IATF 16949:2016 outlines everything you need to know about achieving best practice when designing, developing, manufacturing, installing or servicing automotive products.
Why should I carry this Standard ?
- This standard, combined with applicable Customer-Specific Requirements (CSR’s), defines the QMS requirements for automotive production, service and/or accessory parts.
- Harmonizing the country-specific regulations of QMS’ it helps build and enforce the confidence of a prospective customer towards the system and process quality of the Supplier.
Who Needs this Standard?
It is applicable to any supplier providing design and development, production companies, and, when relevant, assembly, installation and services of automotive related products, including products with embedded software.
The first time vehicle assembly plants will be encouraged to seek IATF Certification.
The primary focus provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain
The IATF 16949 standard is also applicable to sites of the organization where manufacturing of customer-specified production parts, service parts, and/or accessory parts occur.
When to Implement IATF 16949?
Compliance to the IATF 16949 standard can be done at any time but is typically used when:
- Customers specify it as a part of their contract.
- Organizations want to enhance their product delivery and customer satisfaction.
How to Implement IATF 16949?
IATF 16949 Compliance can be achieved through Quality-One’s
Seven Phase Approach:
They are:
- Executive and Management Overview / Planning
- Gap Assessment and Planning
- Documentation
- Implementation and Training
- Internal Assessment and Management Review
- 3rd Party Registration Assessment
- Sustain and Continual Improvement
The IATF QMS
- Defines how an organization can meet the requirements of its customers and other stakeholders through definition of objectives and improvement methodologies required to reach them.
- Promotes the idea of continual improvement.
- Emphasizes defect prevention.
- Promotes reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain.
- Facilitates documented and implemented corporate responsibility polices.
Requirements and Core Tools for the Automotive Industry
The IATF 16949’s QMS Principles
Today, it has become mandatory for a Supplier to possess this certification. 65,000 suppliers worldwide are currently certified to ISO/TS 16949.
How long does it take to get this implemented?
Certification can happen fairly quickly once your management system is ready. Usually, the certification bodies define the time needed, and it is from three to six months after the system is implemented (last document is approved and published).
Advantage of IATF
- Demonstrates ability to provide products that meet customer and applicable statutory, regulatory and product safety requirements.
- Implements processes for improvement of the system.
- Defines overall context and those affected and what they expect.
- Clearly states objectives and identifies new business opportunities.
- Identifies and address risks.
- Increases efficiencies, productivity and reduce internal costs.
- Ensures repeat customers, increased customer loyalty, new clients and increased business besides earning recognition as a world-class automotive supplier.
- Enables integration with other management system standards.
- Brings quality and continual improvement to the core of the organization.
- Increases involvement of the leadership team.
- New markets require IATF 16949 before doing business.
- Makes the Company more socially responsible through the documentation and implementation of corporate responsibility polices.
- Risk mitigation and improved opportunity management due to application of risk-based thinking.
Background
This is the global technical specification and quality management standard for the automotive industry. The ISO/TS 16949 was originally created in 1999 to harmonize different assessment and certification schemes worldwide in the supply chain for the automotive sector.
IATF 16949:2016 replaced ISO/TS 16949 in October 2016.
- International Automotive Task Force (IATF) is a group of automotive manufacturers (which includes The BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, Renault, Volkswagen AG and Vehicle Manufacturers’ Trade Associations among others), who aim at providing improved quality products to automotive customers worldwide.Â
- The IATF 16949 is a QMS prepared by IATF and the Technical Committee of ISO to provide for continual improvement, emphasizing on defect prevention, variation reduction and wastage in the supply chain of the automotive industry.