IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Management Systems Certification

 

What is IATF 16949?

IATF 16949 is a globally recognised standard aimed at automobile industry suppliers. This standard focuses on evidence-based decision making and is designed to improve the quality of automotive products by preventing defects and reducing waste.

Furthermore, IATF 16949 offers a variety of benefits that encourages the continuous improvement of your organisation’s performance; regardless of the size of your business or your role within the supply chain.

Once certified, organisations can proudly promote themselves as certificate holders in any of their promotional materials and can include the URS certification logo free of charge.

 

Who requires IATF 16949 certification?

IATF 16949 is required by organisations involved in the automotive supply chain, such as:  

 

• Manufacturers


• Suppliers


• Service Providers

How can IATF 16949 benefit your business?

With a 16949 certification, you can look forward to a wide variety of benefits for your business, including:

 

• Visually demonstrating your commitment to quality


• Improving your customer satisfaction


• Reducing costs throughout the business


• Enhancing the reputation of your brand and reaching a wider range of clients


• Ensuring your business complies with industry standards

How can you prepare for IATF 16949 Certification?

Although the thought of starting the certification process may seem daunting, there are a variety of steps you can take to make the process to becoming certified far more streamlined:

 

• Familiarise yourself with the standard and gain an understanding of the risk-based approach.


• Carry out a gap analysis to identify how compliant your system is with IATF 16949 and ISO 9001.


• Prepare all relevant documentation, procedures and training records.


• Carry out internal audits to prepare your team members for the audit and highlight any corrective actions to complete before the actual audit takes place.


• Carry out any training your team members may be missing to ensure all staff members are compliant with the standard.

What are the key requirements for IATF 16949?

Whilst becoming certified for IATF 16949, there are five key requirements that you will be audited on. It’s important to ensure these areas are a point of focus whilst preparing for your certification and carrying out mock audits. These areas include:

 

• Effectiveness of your Quality Management System


• Risk Management


• Improvement tools


• Supply Chain Management


• Continuous improvement

What are the KPI’s for IATF 16949?

With the introduction of IATF 16949 Rules 6th, there are a range of Key Performance Indicators that you as a client will need to meet in order to maintain your certification. The following points provide a summary of the client requirements set out in the standard:

 

• Audit planning information is required no less than thirty calendar days before the start date of the audit.


• If the audit planning information is not provided at least thirty calendar days before the start date of the audit, the audit may be delayed to ensure that the audit plan can be provided. .


• The IATF NC CARA shall be used to exchange the responses between the audit team and the client for each nonconformity.


• The client is required to submit evidence for major nonconformities within a maximum of fifteen calendar days from the audit closing meeting.


• The client is required to submit evidence for minor nonconformities within a maximum of sixty calendar days from the audit closing meeting.


• Following a certification withdrawal, the client shall start over with an initial certification audit.


• In case of certification withdrawal, the certification body shall require the client to remove all references to IATF 16949 certification.


• When a letter of conformance approaches its expiration date and the client remains unable to achieve IATF 16949 certification, the client may request a new letter of conformance.


• The client shall notify the certification body of any imminent relocation of manufacturing and/or support activities.

What clauses make up the structure of IATF 16949?

 

Clause 1 – Scope:

As IATF 16949 :2016 is based on ISO 9001:2015, this clause highlights ISO 9001:2015 as a normative reference. A thorough understanding of this additional standard is crucial for any organisations applying for IATF 16949 certification.

 

Clause 2 – Normative References

As IATF 16949 :2016 is based on ISO 9001:2015, this clause highlights ISO 9001:2015 as a normative reference. A thorough understanding of this additional standard is crucial for any organisations applying for IATF 16949 certification.

 

Clause 3 – Terms and Definitions

In this clause, a glossary of terms and relevant definitions that apply to the automotive industry are provided. These terms feature throughout the standard, so it is important for organisations to familiarise themselves with those that feature in this clause.

 

Clause 4 – Context of the organisation

This clause outlines the internal and external context of the organisation and highlights the needs and expectations of interested parties. In addition, this clause also covers the determination of the QMS scope, QMS processes and customer specific requirements.

 

Clause 5 – Leadership

Clause 5 concentrates on the role that leadership plays in aligning CMS with the direction the organisation will be taking. This includes leadership and commitment, quality policy and Organisational roles, responsibilities and authorities.

 

Clause 6 – Planning

This clause considers actions that can be taken to address risks and opportunities, and places a strong emphasis on risk-based thinking. Subclauses in this section also cover quality objectives and planning of changes.

 

Clause 7 – Support

In this clause, the resources that are required for the implementation and maintenance of the QMS are outlined. The required resources are covered in the subclauses and include competency, awareness, communication, and documented information.

 

Clause 8 – Operation

This clause addresses the planning and controlling processes that are needed to meet customer requirements. This includes design and development, control of external processes, production and release of service provisions, and control of nonconformances.

 

Clause 9 – Performance

This clause defines the way in which the performance of the QMS will be monitored and evaluated. This is done through performance indicators, which are evaluated using internal audits and management reviews.

 

Clause 10 – Improvement

The final clause provides an outline for the continual improvement of the QMS, using corrective actions devised from nonconformities that have been received.

 

How long will your IATF 16949 certificate be valid for?

Your IATF 16949 certificate will be valid for at least three years; dependent on the type of site that is being certified.  

 

Relevant resources for IATF 16949:

IATF have a range of resource documents available to assist with your journey to becoming certified. These include the IATF 16949 standard, and the Rules for Achieving IATF Recognition; both of which can be found using the following link:

IATF Resources

Ready to get started? Apply using the quotation link below.