Overview of IATF 16949

The IATF 16949:2016 is a globally recognized and widely used Automotive standard for Quality Management System. The standard is derived from the ISO 9001:2015 and replaces ISO/TS 16949. This Automotive Quality Management System is followed by automotive organizations worldwide.

ISO 9001, certain Customer Specific Requirements (CSR), and automotive sector requirements are incorporated into the IATF 16949 QMS standard.

The Automotive standards with the Core tools especially APQP and FMEAs have led to the Automotive Industry essentially reaching Zero Defects. It should not be surprising that many large and small companies are producing products whose quality is measured in Parts per billion.

Here is a presentation on the History of the Automotive Standards. This history is unfinished since the industry is going through a major shift in its product from Internal Combustion (ICE) to Electric and Autonomous Vehicle. This unprecedented change will fundamentally change the IATF 16949.

IATF 16949:2016 Application

This standard focuses on continuous improvement towards a process-oriented quality management system, in addition to preventing defects and minimizing the waste in the supply chain. IATF 16949:2016 enables organizations to meet the demands of the customers in an effective manner.

This standard applies to companies that manufacture parts, components, assemblies, production and service parts, or any other accessories, throughout the automotive supply chain. With the seven levers, the QMS impacts Embedded Software. IATF 16949 requires standards such as Automotive SPICE® to be applied to the internal software development and also to those of suppliers. It is important to keep in mind that software is now one of the leading causes of warranty and recalls in the Automotive industry.

IATF 16949 and APQP will fundamentally change with the advent of ISO 26262 (Functional Safety), Automotive SPICE®, ISO21434 - SOTIF, and ISO 21448 - Cybersecurity. These standards require a fundamental change in product development, ie. System Engineering and the organization of product development into System, Hardware, and Software. Some of the fundamental changes are:

Fundamental Changes in IATF 16949

  • Structure analysis (Systems Engineering)
  • Engineering V-model
  • Requirements Flow Down (RFD)
  • Requirements Management
  • Testing flows up
  • Traceability
  • Configuration Management

Benefits in IATF 16949

Implementing IATF 16949 will enable customers to receive quality products and services consistently, that usher's business advantages thus ensuring quality, safety, and responsibility for the various manufacturing parts and assemblies. This standard further helps:

  • Strengthen customer relationship
  • Improve operational efficiency
  • Achieve customer satisfaction
  • Reduce defects and mitigates risks
  • Scale down variation
  • Reduce waste in the supply chain

What is New in IATF 16949:2016?

  • Gaining an understanding of the Organizations and its context.
  • Recognizing the needs and expectations of those who are interested.
  • Commitment and Leadership.
  • Responses to risks and opportunities.
  • Customer Specific requirements – Included in the scope of the Quality Management system. IATF interprets this also to mean that they are integrated into the processes of the organizational QMS.
  • Product Safety: Management of both Product and Process safety requirements are introduced to address final customer product safety concerns.
  • Development of Products with Embedded Software: Use a Quality Assurance process including a software development assessment methodology. Maintain a self-assessment of your software development capability.
  • Temporary Change of Process Controls: Requirements to maintain a list of process controls and alternatives and document sufficiently to remove risk and maintain traceability in case there are issues.
  • Competence of first and second-party auditors.
  • Specific requirements for manufacturer feasibility.
  • New requirement added for warranty management.
  • New requirement added on repair and rework processes etc.

Impact of EV AV Standards on IATF 16949 Quality Management Systems

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Chad Kymal

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Latest updates in IATF 16949:2016 - Sanctioned Interpretation: Experts view in 3 Steps

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Omnex Inc

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IATF 16949 Update - Automotive SPICE®, TISAX, ACMS, VDA PPAP and Other News

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Chad Kymal, Martin Hettwer

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Latest Updates to IATF 16949: Key Focus Areas During COVID

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Chad Kymal

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How to Implement IATF 16949:2016

  • Discuss and plan the approach to QMS.
  • The strategy must be determined before the gap analysis is conducted.
  • Identify Key strategies to be used.
  • Conduct a discovery/gap analysis to determine where the organization stands in reference. to the overall IATF plan and strategy.
  • Develop an implementation plan with a steering committee and process owners.
  • Implement the key strategies and initiatives.
  • Document the process and procedures.
  • Roll out the new system.
  • Conduct internal audits.
  • Conduct a management review.
  • Conduct third-party audits.

Omnex has been implementing Management System integrating IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO 45001 for numerous organizations worldwide.

Why should you choose Omnex?

  • We have pioneered the business process approach for quality systems implementation with more than 20,000 companies worldwide.
  • Omnex has worked with most of the major Automotive and Truck OEMs and their tier-1s worldwide. In fact, Omnex has been at the forefront of developing and deploying all major Automotive OEM initiatives, starting from the Ford Motor Company in the 1990s.
  • Maximum value-added implementations achieve maximum cost savings.
  • High return on investment.
  • Customized quality improvement software solutions.
  • Our methodology of implementing quality systems has been acclaimed worldwide for its superior quality, cost savings, process fine-tuning, business improvement, and an unmatched set of value-added tools.
  • We represent AIAG committee members for writing manuals such as FMEA, SPC, etc.
  • We were involved in the writing of QS 9000, QoS, and SAC 9000.

FAQ

IATF 16949, International Automotive Task Force 16949, is a globally recognized quality management standard specifically designed for the automotive industry. By implementing IATF 16949, your company can enhance operational efficiency, reduce defects, and ultimately improve customer satisfaction, leading to increased profitability and a competitive edge.

The key changes in the latest version of IATF 16949 include:

  • New focus on risk-based thinking
  • Greater emphasis on customer satisfaction
  • New requirements for process performance monitoring and measurement.
  • New requirements for supplier management
  • New requirements for senior management review and commitment.

Any entity providing goods or services to the automotive sector should contemplate obtaining IATF 16949 certification. This encompasses organizations of diverse scales, from small enterprises to large corporations.

To achieve IATF 16949 certification, organizations should first conduct a gap analysis to identify areas for improvement, then develop and implement a compliant Quality Management System, followed by a formal certification audit by an accredited body to obtain the certification.

The IATF 16949 core tools are a set of five tools that are used to improve the quality of products and processes in the automotive industry. The five tools are:

  • Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
  • Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA)
  • Statistical Process Control (SPC)
  • Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

IATF 16949:2016 consists of 10 main clauses, each addressing specific aspects of quality management within the automotive industry.

IATF 16949:2016 incorporates ISO 9001 requirements but adds automotive-specific criteria, making it more tailored to the automotive industry. IATF 16949 can be seen as an extension of ISO 9001 with industry-specific enhancements.

IATF 16949 auditing is vital for automotive organizations because it helps ensure compliance with industry-specific quality and safety standards. It also helps automotive companies maintain and continuously improve their quality management systems, thereby enhancing product quality and safety.