Why do companies want to Implement IATF 16949?

What is IATF 16949?

IATF 16949:2016 is the International Standard for Automotive Quality Management Systems. IATF 16949 was jointly developed by The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) members and submitted to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for approval and publication.

IATF 16949 emphasizes the development of a process-oriented quality management system that provides for?continual improvement,?defect prevention, and reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. The goal is to meet customer requirements efficiently and effectively.

A Quality Management System based on IATF 16949:

??Is it a method of defining how an organization can meet the requirements of its customers and other stakeholders?

??Promotes the idea of continual improvement

??Requires organizations to define objectives and continually improve their processes to reach them

??Emphasizes defect prevention

??Promotes the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain

??Requires documented and implemented corporate responsibility policies

??Includes specific requirements and core tools from the automotive industry

??Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)

??Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

??Statistical Process Control (SPC)

??Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA)

??Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

The IATF 16949 standard is a supplemental standard and is used in conjunction with the ISO standards:

·IATF 16949 – establishes the Automotive supplemental requirements of a quality management system

·ISO 9001 – defines the base requirements of a quality management system

·ISO 9000 – covers the basic concepts and language

·ISO 9004 – focuses on how to make a quality management system more efficient and effective

·ISO 19011 – guides internal (1st party) and external (2nd party) audits of quality management systems

·ISO 31000 – outlines risk management principles and guidelines

?The standard is based on seven Quality Management Principles, including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach, and continual improvement.

These Quality Management Principles are defined as follows:

1.????Customer focus

2.????Leadership

3.????Engagement of people

4.????Process approach

5.????Improvement

6.????Evidence-based decision making

7.????Relationship management

Why IATF 16949 and not just ISO 16949?

IATF 16949 was developed by the?International Automotive Task Force (IATF).??IATF 16949:2016?is an innovative document designed by IATF. It provides strong preference to the?customer,?with the inclusion of several consolidated previous customer-specific?requirements.?The IATF maintains strong cooperation with ISO by continuing liaison committee status ensuring continued alignment with ISO 9001.

?Why do companies want to Implement IATF 16949?

Registration to IATF 16949 is not only beneficial but a requirement for any company wanting to supply its products to the Automotive Industry. Companies registered to this Technical Specification are required to develop their suppliers’?Quality Management Systems?with the goal of the supplier conforming to IATF 16949.?

Implementing IATF 16949 ensures that customers receive consistent, good-quality products and services, which in turn may bring many business benefits. IATF 16949 specifies requirements for a Quality Management System when an organization wants to:

· Demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products that meet customer and applicable statutory, regulatory, and product safety requirements

· Enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system

· Implement processes for improvement of the system

· Define overall context, who is affected, and what they expect

· Clearly state objectives and identify new business opportunities

· Put customers first, making sure their needs are consistently met and enhance their satisfaction

· Have repeat customers, increase customer loyalty, add new clients, and increase business

· Expand into new markets, as some sectors and clients require IATF 16949 before doing business

· Identify and address the risks associated with your organization

· Work in a more efficient way to increase productivity and efficiency, bringing internal costs down

· Become more socially responsible through the documentation and implementation of corporate responsibility policies

How to Implement IATF 16949

Organizations’ deciding to develop and implement any new or improved QMS is a strategic decision. All efforts should be focused on the identification and minimization of risk while meeting and exceeding customer and organizational goals and objective requirements.

Organizations should commit to:

·?Recognize direct and indirect customers as those who receive value from the organization

·?Understand customer’s current and future needs and expectations

·?Link the organization’s objectives to customer needs and expectations

·?Communicate customer needs and expectations throughout the organization

·?Plan, design, develop, produce, deliver and support products to meet customer needs and expectations

·?Measure and monitor customer satisfaction and take appropriate actions

·?Determine and take actions on interested parties’ needs and expectations that can affect customer satisfaction

·?Actively manage relationships with customers to achieve sustained success

·?Become more socially responsible

·?Provide necessary resources to ensure product safety requirements are met

?IATF 16949 Revisions

IATF 16949:2016

IATF 16949:2016 is the current version of the IATF 16949 Standard which outlines the?requirements?an organization must maintain in their?quality system?for?IATF 16949 certification.?It is the most recent version of the standard which included several?changes from TS 16949?including:?

·?Adaption/adoption of the new ISO structure (Annex L) to align with other standards including?ISO 14001,?ISO 45001, etc.

·?Promotes a?process approach?to produce the sought-after quality outcomes

·?Presents requirements for quality performance in the organization’s strategic planning

·?Greater emphasis on?top-level management?for ownership of the QMS

TS 16949: 2009

TS 16949 was an internationally recognized Quality Management System specification for the automotive industry. In conjunction with ISO 9001:2008, TS 16949 defined the quality management system requirements for the design and development, production, and when relevant, installation and service of automotive-related products. It applied to sites where customer-specified parts for production and service are manufactured. This revision is based on the updates made to the ISO 9001:2008 standard.

?TS 16949:2002

TS 16949:2002?TS 16949:2002 was based on ISO 9001:2000. Together, they defined the quality management system requirements for the design and development, production, and, when relevant, installation and service of automotive-related products.

?TS 16949:1999

TS 16949:1999 was the first edition of the quality management system for the automobile industry. It is a standard aimed at the development of a quality management system that provides a continual improvement,?emphasizing?defect?prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the automotive industry?supply chain.

?QS9000

QS9000 was a quality standard developed by a joint effort of the “Big Three” American automakers, General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford. It was introduced to the industry in 1994 and superseded by TS 16949 in 1999.