IATF 16949 explained

What is „IATF“ and what does „IATF 16949“ mean?

The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) is an ad hoc group of automotive manufacturers and related industry associations that has set itself the goal of offering improved quality products to customers in the automotive industry worldwide. The reasons for founding the IATF were as follows.

• To develop a consensus on the international essential requirements for quality assurance systems, primarily for the direct suppliers of participating companies for production materials, product or service parts or finishing services (e.g. heat treatment, painting and coating).
• Develop guidelines and procedures for the common IATF registration system for third parties to ensure global consistency.
• Provide appropriate training to support the requirements of IATF 16949 and the IATF registration system.
• Establish formal links with appropriate bodies to support the objectives of the IATF.

Overall, the IATF makes a significant contribution to the harmonization of quality standards in the automotive industry and thus strengthens confidence in the entire value chain. IATF 16949 is a sector-specific standard that was developed specifically for the automotive industry and is primarily aimed at development and production in the automotive industry. If required, assembly, installation and services for products and those with integrated software are also included. All supporting functions, whether at the production site or externally, must be taken into account in the quality management system in order to cover the entire supply chain. Suppliers are also assessed through regular audits to ensure that their products and services meet the high-quality standards. The only exception to these requirements is product development in accordance with section 8.3, although this must be documented. In addition, customer-specific requirements must be considered and integrated into the organisation’s quality management system in accordance with the requirements of the standard.

The difference between IATF 16949 and ISO 9001

IATF 16949 is a sector-specific standard that builds on ISO 9001. ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management systems. It focuses on customer satisfaction and can be used to certify companies in any industry. IATF 16949, on the other hand, is not an independent quality management system standard, but is based on ISO 9001 and can be applied specifically in the automotive industry. It includes the requirements of ISO 9001 and expands them to include sector-specific specifications. Typically, companies first obtain ISO 9001 certification and then supplement this certification with the requirements of IATF 16949. Although IATF certification is also possible without prior ISO 9001 certification. In this case all requirements defined in the IATF – including those of ISO 9001 – must be reviewed. IATF 16949 ensures that automotive manufacturers and their suppliers comply with the industry’s high-quality requirements. This is supplemented by the VDA 6.3 standard, which was developed specifically for process audits in the automotive industry in order to evaluate and audit processes along the entire supply chain. This ensures that quality requirements are consistently implemented.

Development and components of the standard

The first version of the ISO/TS 16949 standard was created by the IATF in 1999 in order to harmonize the different assessment and certification systems in the automotive industry supply chain worldwide. The standard has been revised several times since then and in 2016 the version ISO/TS 16949:2009 was replaced by the current version IATF 16949:2016. With the publication of IATF 16949 Rules, Edition 6, new deadlines will come into force from 1 January 2025. These rules are mandatory for all audits and replace all previous sanctioned interpretations, FAQs and the current 5th edition.

The content of IATF 16949 is based on the structure of ISO 9001, with the first chapters covering the ‘scope, ‘normative references’ and ‘terms and definitions’ from quality management in the automotive industry. The normative requirements, which are built on the first chapters, begin in chapter 4. The section ‘Context and organization’ is supplemented with points such as ‘Customer-specific requirements’, ‘Product and process conformity’ and ‘Product safety’ in addition to the requirements adopted from ISO 9001 for the inclusion of the company environment. The following sections, ‘Leadership’ and ‘Planning’, contain additional requirements such as ‘Risk analysis’, ‘Preventive measures’ and ‘Emergency plans’. Numerous aspects are also added to the ‘Support’ and ‘Operation’ sections. Section 9 ‘Evaluation and performance’ presents methods for monitoring and analysing quality management systems, such as audits. The final section deals with “Improvement’ and focuses on continuous improvement, problem solving and error-proofing.

Challenges of implementing IATF 16949

The implementation of IATF 16949 in a company brings with it a number of challenges as well as benefits. High demands on process documentation require a clear and comprehensible record of all processes, which is particularly time-consuming and cost-intensive if a suitable documentation system is not yet in place. The quality culture must also be established at all levels of the organisation in order to promote a sustainable rethink from management to production employees.

As the automotive industry relies heavily on supply chains, all supplied parts must also be certified for IATF certification, which requires close cooperation between all partners and suppliers. The introduction of IATF 16949 requires considerable financial and human resources. From adapting processes and training employees to implementing comprehensive risk management. Certification also requires regular audits to ensure compliance with the standards. These audits are also costly and time-consuming and require a high level of preparation and documentation. To summarise, implementing the standard comes with some challenges, but it offers clear benefits in terms of quality, competitiveness and customer satisfaction.

Why YOUR company should be „IATF 16949“ certified?

In the automotive industry, the safety and reliability of vehicles and public safety are paramount. The industry is therefore subject to strict quality standards and requirements. IATF 16949 certified companies signalise reliability and quality, which increases the trust of your customers and their satisfaction. Consistent quality measures mean that defects can be avoided or recognised at an early stage, which in turn helps to conserve resources. Such certifications are often a prerequisite for being included in the supplier base, which gives companies a competitive advantage. If everyone involved in the supply chain adheres to uniform quality standards, confidence in the entire procurement process increases. In addition, the harmonisation of quality requirements facilitates international trade, as misunderstandings and double certifications are reduced.

Step by Step to IATF 16949  certification

To achieve successful IATF 16949 certification, companies must go through several essential steps that require careful preparation, comprehensive planning and continuous monitoring.

• Preparation: Firstly, an understanding of the requirements of the standard must be developed. A gap analysis is used to analyse the status quo of the company and identify any necessary changes.
• Development: Based on the gap analysis, a detailed plan is developed for the further implementation procedure. The company must also select an IATF-recognized company to carry out the audit later.
• Implementation/realization: The previously identified required changes are carried out. Examples include the development of new processes, workshops/training for employees and the introduction of new systems and the customization of existing systems.
• Internal audit: The necessary requirements are checked internally after the adjustments have been made to ensure that they fulfil the requirements of an external audit.
• External audit: A company recognized by the IATF is commissioned to check all relevant processes, documents and records by comparing them with the requirements of IATF 16949. If the company to be certified fulfils all requirements, certification is awarded by the accredited body. If deviations are found, the company must make corrections based on the recommendations of the accreditation body and prove in a post-audit that all requirements have been met in order to finally receive the certification. The certificate must be reviewed and reissued every three years.

Recommendations for successful realization in your company

To ensure successful implementation of the standard in a company, certain measures and strategies are crucial. The following tips can help companies to successfully implement IATF 16949 and establish a sustainable quality culture at the same time.

• Involve both top management and employees: Management must actively support implementation in order to promote a quality culture at all levels of the organisation. This can be achieved by providing training programs so that the entire team is aware of the quality standards and works in a coordinated manner.
• Risk management: As IATF 16949 focuses on error prevention, the emphasis should be placed on risk management. The identification of potential risks in the early phases of processes and preventive measures to avoid errors and failures are therefore essential.
• Documentation: It must be ensured that all processes, work instructions and quality controls are accurately documented. Good documentation facilitates audits and enables traceability. It is also advisable to conduct regular internal audits in order to recognize weaknesses at an early stage.
• Involve experts: Experts with knowledge of IATF 16949 should be involved to ensure the fastest and smoothest implementation possible and to quickly reap the benefits of IATF 16949.
• Collaboration: It is also advisable to work closely with suppliers to ensure that they understand and support the requirements. If audits are carried out at suppliers, the quality of the supplied parts can also be guaranteed.

Conclusion

Quality standards increase the competitiveness of companies by guaranteeing reliability and safety and facilitating global cooperation. IATF 16949 was developed to ensure the highest quality standards, process optimization and a zero-defect philosophy. This enables competitiveness to be increased, customer requirements to be met precisely and risks in the supply chain to be minimized. The standard emphasises proactive error prevention, strong risk management and the involvement of all stakeholders, from employees to suppliers. Successful implementation requires commitment, solid planning and a culture of continuous improvement to meet the demands of the dynamic automotive industry.

EFS Consulting supports you in developing the processes and strategies required to fulfil the requirements of IATF 16949, so that your company can position itself as a reliable and competitive partner on a global level and ensure the long-term success of your company.