One of the automotive industry’s most widely used international standards for quality management, ISO/TS 16949, is evolving with the publication of a new global industry standard by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF). This latest version was developed with an unprecedented level of industry feedback and engagement by AIAG members representing North America.
ISO/TS 16949, a technical specification for automotive sector quality management systems, has become one of the most widely used international standards in the automotive industry, harmonizing the different assessment and certification systems in the global automotive supply chain.
On October 3rd, 2016 IATF 16949: 2016 was published by the IATF and supersedes and replaces the current ISO/TS 16949, defining the requirements of a quality management system for organizations in the automotive industry.
For organizations currently certified to ISO/TS 16949, here is a recommended
action plan for transitioning:
- Familiarize yourself ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949.
- Perform an organizational gap analysis against ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949 to identify the differences that need to be addressed to ensure your organization’s QMS meets all the new requirements, including those related to external providers.
- Based on the results of the gap analysis, develop an implementation plan specific to your organization.
- Provide appropriate training for all individuals involved in implementing ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949 at your organization.
- Update your existing system and provide evidence that your organization meets the new requirements.
Benefits of IATF 16949: 2016
Improvement of your credibility and image – Because IATF 16949 is an internationally recognized standard, it has become the basis for creating a Quality Management System (QMS) around the world, replacing many previously published requirements. When a company is looking for a supplier, it is often a requirement to have a QMS based on IATF 16949 in order to be considered. This is particularly the case if you are competing for jobs in the automotive industry. Attaining IATF 16949 certification is often a must in these cases.
Qualify to supply the automotive industry – This is one of the main drives for companies to get certified against IATF 16949. In order to get big customers from the automotive industry, you have to demonstrate that you are able to provide high-quality products with no defects, and an IATF 16949 certificate will prove it.
Improvement of customer satisfaction – One of the quality management principles that are the foundation of the IATF 16949 requirements is to improve customer satisfaction by planning for and striving to meet customer requirements. By improving your customer satisfaction, you will retain more repeat customers, since happy and satisfied customers are the key to keeping customer loyalty. And, such customers bring in additional revenues.
Better process integration – By looking at the overall process interactions through the process approach of IATF 16949, you will be able to more easily find improvements in efficiency and cost savings. This is done through eliminating the waste that can occur when processes are maintained without a view of the inefficiencies that can arise during process handoff. The better process flow can also be used to drive efficiencies towards fewer errors and resulting reworks, which can improve cost savings.
Improve your evidence for decision making – A second quality management principle of IATF 16949 is the need to use evidence-based decision making. By driving your decisions based on the evidence, rather than on “gut feelings,” you can be more focused on applying resources to the areas that will improve efficiencies and increase cost savings with less trial and error to find the right decision. In addition, by monitoring the process you are improving, you will be able to see how much improvement has happened based on the data.
Create a continual improvement culture – Continual improvement is a third quality management principle of IATF 16949. By adopting this culture to improve your processes and organizational output, you will find efficiencies and cost savings, including the use of systematic processes when problems occur in order to reduce the impact of the problem and increase the speed of recovery. By making this continual, improving year after year, the company can see continuing benefits from this.
Engagement of employees – Employees who are involved in the improvements of the processes they work with are happier and more engaged employees. Who better than the people working on the process to best identify the areas that need improvement, and to help to test and advance these improvements when they are implemented? Engaged employees are more productive and will help the company better improve and save, especially when they understand how the quality of the process depends on them.
We offer comprehensive services that will help you to achieve IATF 16949: 2016 certification. We provide assistance to
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