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  • 05 April 2019
  • Employing a quality management system can help ensure consistent performance of automotive products. A technical specification called IATF 16949 can assist in creating such a system.
  • Working in the automotive sector requires a commitment to quality. The caliber of the parts used to make automobiles, as well as of the vehicles themselves, are crucial to ensuring customer safety and an enjoyable customer experience. Employing a quality management system can help ensure consistent performance of automotive products. A technical specification called IATF 16949 can assist in creating such a system.
  • What Is IATF 16949?
  • IATF 16949 is a technical standard for quality management systems in the automotive sector. It is one of the most widely used international standards for the automotive industry.
  • IATF is not a stand-alone quality management standard. Instead, it is a supplement to ISO 9001:2015, the quality management standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that applies to businesses across industries. ISO 9001 has a broader scope, and does not address considerations that are specific to the automotive sector. Because of this, IATF 16949 goes hand in hand with ISO 9001 to create an automotive-specific standard.
  • The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) developed the most recent version of the standard, which the ISO approved. The ISO also published earlier versions of the guidelines, beginning in 1999. The previous version was called ISO/TS 16949, which indicates the ISO published it and that it received the two-thirds votes required to become an approved technical specification. As of Sept. 14, 2018, certification to all versions released before IATF 16949:2016 have expired.
  • The IATF is a group of automotive manufacturers and trade associations that formed to improve the quality of automotive products for customers around the world. IATF members include the manufacturers Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, FCA US LLC, PSA Group, BMW Group, Daimler AG, FCA Italy Spa, Volkswagen AG and Renault, as well as the trade associations AIAG of the United States, SMMT of the United Kingdom, ANFIA of Italy, FIEV of France and VDA QMC of Germany.
  • Who Does IATF 16949 Apply To?
  • IATF 16949 applies to organizations that are part of or related to the automotive industry. Some of these organizations include:
  • •Automobile manufacturers
  • •Manufacturers of automotive parts
  • •Material suppliers for automobile and automotive parts manufacturers
  • •Automotive design centers
  • •Automotive distribution centers
  • •Quality management organizations that work with automobile manufacturers
  • •Other organizations that work in the automotive industry or are related to it
  • What Does in IATF 16949 Include?
  • IATF 16949 defines requirements for a quality management system for the design, development, production, assembly, installation and service of automotive-related products. A quality management system, or QMS, is a set of processes and policies designed to ensure the consistent excellence of an organization's products or services. ISO 9001 lays out a framework for a QMS that is applicable across industries. IATF 16949 uses the structure of ISO 9001 and includes some requirements specific to the automotive industry. IATF provides two manuals ¡ª one for IATF 16949 and one for ISO 9001 ¡ª to companies seeking certification.
  • Some of the aspects of an automotive QMS IATF 16949 focuses on include:
  • •Process efficiency and effectiveness
  • •Defect prevention
  • •Customer satisfaction
  • •Supply chain optimization
  • •Continuous improvement
  • While the text of the two standards is not identical, much of it is similar. The use of a shared structure makes it easier to use the two guidelines together, as well as with other ISO standards that have the same structure.
  • IATF 16949 includes the same 10-part structure as ISO 9001.
  • •Section 1: Scope: This section is introductory and defines the scope of the standard.
  • •Section 2: Normative References: This section identifies the other documents referenced within the standard, which are necessary for its application.
  • •Section 3: Terms and Definitions: This section defines relevant terms.
  • •Section 4: Context of the Organization: This section helps the organization determine its context, including the needs and expectations of interested parties, in terms of the QMS. It also outlines general QMS requirements.
  • •Section 5: Leadership: This section discusses the role of an organization's leadership in implementing the QMS. It also defines corporate responsibility and quality policy. It notes management must demonstrate leadership and a commitment to the QMS, as well as assign roles and responsibilities related to the QMS, including that of process owners.
  • •Section 6: Planning: This section includes requirements for creating plans to address risks and opportunities, risk analysis, quality objects, preventive actions and contingency plans.
  • •Section 7: Support: This section covers requirements for supporting processes and resources. It defines requirements for people, organizational knowledge, work environment, awareness, communication, monitoring and measuring resources, infrastructure, auditor competence and documented information.
  • •Section 8: Operation: This section provides requirements related directly to products and services, including processes for planning, designing, reviewing product requirements, purchasing and creating them. Companies can disregard certain aspects of this section if they aren't relevant. If a company isn't involved in product design, for example, it can ignore those related requirements.
  • •Section 9: Performance Evaluation: This section covers requirements for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the QMS. It discusses methods used for internal audits, monitoring manufacturing processes, management reviews and evaluating customer satisfaction.
  • •Section 10: Improvement: This section deals with the continual improvement of the QMS and includes requirements related to nonconformities and corrective actions.


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