IATF 16949 Certification

Quality Management for Automotive Production

IATF 16949 is a voluntary certification scheme, which is aligned to ISO 9001:2015, the world's most widely adopted QMS standard. Developed by the IATF and the ISO technical committee, the standard specifies the requirements of ISO 9001 for automotive production.

The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) is comprised of automotive manufacturers and trade associations, and aims to improve the quality of automotive products worldwide. IATF automotive manufacturer members include BMW, FCA US LLC, Daimler AG, FCA Italy Spa, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, PSA Group, Renault, Volkswagen AG. Trade Associations that belong to IATF include AIAG (U.S.), ANFIA (Italy), FIEV (France), SMMT (U.K.) and VDA (Germany).

The IATF 16949 standard comprises 10 clauses:

• Clauses 1 to 3 address the scope, normative references and terms and definitions.
• Clauses 4 to 10 form the P-D-C-A cycle (Plant-Do-Check-Act)

Principles in the Standard

IATF 16949 covers a lot of ground. It breaks up the principles governing the standard into nine categories:

1. Continuous Improvement
2. Defect Prevention
3. Reducing Waste
4. Product Safety
5. Risk Management
6. Contingency Planning
7. Requirements for Embedded Software
8. Change and Warranty Management
9. Management of Sub-Tier Suppliers

Why IATF 16949 Certification is Important

IATF 16949 certification demonstrates that your company has met extensive requirements to create a process of continuous improvement with an emphasis on defect prevention and reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. The technical specification is implemented for all branches of manufacturers and suppliers of products or production materials, services such as heat treatment or galvanizing, and other products specified by automotive customers such as the constituent parts of vehicles.

Certification is recognized by leading automotive manufacturers and OEMs. Most leading manufacturers will only work with companies that hold IATF 16949 certification, as they insist that suppliers adhere to the strict technical specifications laid out in the standard.

PREPARE FOR A SMOOTH CERTIFICATION PROCESS

Before a certification audit can take place, your organization will need to implement a quality management system, as well as document its effectiveness and compliance to the standard requirements through the following steps:

• Upskilling - Become familiar with IATF 16949 objectives and requirements including laws and regulations relevant to your business.
• Gap Analysis - Identify gaps against IATF 16949 requirements.
• Implementation - Outline and implement measure so comply with IATF 16949 requirements.
• Documentation - Record measures and key performance indicators (KPIs) to document effectiveness and compliance.

OBTAIN CERTIFICATION WITH TÜV SÜD

TÜV SÜD has over 100 years of experience in automotive solutions, working with top OEMs and suppliers across the entire value chain. Our highly qualified auditors are conveniently available in all key regions across the globe. We are an official IATF-contracted and registered Certification Body. By choosing TÜV SÜD, your IATF 16949 certification will be instantly recognized by automotive OEMs everywhere.

Our following services help your company to conform with the standard and to gain the confidence of major suppliers and manufacturers in the automotive industry:

• Audits: As an official contracted IATF Certification Body, we conduct audits according to IATF 16949 certification rules. Our expert auditors are among the most experienced automotive assessors in the industry and can support you in gaining a competitive edge.
• Certification: Once your company has achieved a positive result in an audit, we will provide an
  IATF-registered IATF 16949 certificate.
• Entry into IATF Database: As a certified IATF 16949 client, TÜV SÜD will enter your company into the IATF Database. This process informs all automotive OEMs that your company has a valid IATF 16949 certification.