Understand the IATF 16949:2016 Standard for the Automotive Sector

These are the standards that ascertain the requirement for Quality Management System (QMS), especially for the automotive sector. It was originally created in 1999 to complement different assessment and certification schemes. It primarily focuses on the development of a Quality Management System which provides continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain.

IATF 16949 was developed by the International Automotive Task Force to improve the certification process. It was issued by CISQ Automotive. This is a federation of Certification Bodies that are recognized by IATF. IATF is an independent QMS system that is fully aligned with the structure and requirement and this will not work as an alone body but must be implemented as a supplement with ISO 9001:2015.

What is IATF 16949?

This standard will provide guidance and tools for the companies and organizations who want to ensure their product consistency to meet their customer requirement as well as the quality and consistency of the products. It actually defines the criteria for automotive-based QMS. An organization will receive the IATF 16949 certification when they provide the product design-related function. Their requirements are generic and are applicable to any supplier providing design and development. It based on the seven QMS Principles which include a strong customer center, the motivation and implication of top management, and the process of continual improvement.

QMS principles are defined as:

1. Customer center

2. Leadership

3. Engagement of people

4. Process advance

5. Improvement

6. Decision making based on Evidence

7. Relationship management

When and How to Implement IATF 16946?

This can be done at any time but mostly used when customers specify this requirement as part of the contract and organization willing to improve their products and customer satisfaction.

While implementing any new or improved QMS is a strategic decision. Their main focus is to identify as well as minimize the risk while meeting and exceeding customers, organizational goals, and objective requirements.

Organizations have an eye on:

1. Identify the customers who receive value from the organization.

2. Understand the customer needs and expectations from the organization

3. Create a link in between the organization objective to customer needs and expectations

4. Communicate between customer needs and expectation from the organization

5. To meet the customer needs and the expectation you should first plan, design, develops, produce, deliver and also support the system.

6. To take appropriate measures you should measure and monitor customer satisfaction.

7. Organizations will become more socially responsible.

Visit us for ISO Certification now.