What is the IATF 16949:2016 certification?
Nowadays, the global automotive industry demands the highest quality standards from automobile brands and manufacturers alike, as well as from suppliers of parts, products and production materials. It is for this reason that IATF 16949:2016 certification has been developed; a standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS) specific to the automotive industry.
The IATF 16949:2016 certification places an emphasis on the development of a process geared towards a quality management system that provides continuous improvement, prevents defects and reduces variations and waste in the supply chain. The objective is to effectively comply with clients’ demanding technical specifications.
This standard has been created by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) and is made up of 9 vehicle manufacturers: Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, VW, Daimler, Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Fiat, with the support of automotive trade organizations from different countries: the United States (AIAG), the United Kingdom (SMMT), France (FIEV), Germany (VDA) and Italy (ANFIA).
Who should be certified with it?
The IATF 16949:2016 standard has become a prerequisite for any company working within the automotive manufacturer supply chain. Many of the manufacturers in the global automotive sector have made this certification a precondition when choosing their suppliers.
The standard applies to all suppliers of components (including components with embedded software, accessories and service parts for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy trucks, buses and motorcycles.
It does not apply to industrial, agricultural or recreational vehicles (mining, forestry, construction, etc.).
ISO 9001 certification
The IATF 16949:2016 only contains the additional requirements relating to the automotive sector (such as, for example, requirements for mass production and original spare parts), but fully approves all the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, referring to them in each of its sections.
As such, this Automotive Quality Management System Standard cannot be considered a QMS standard on its own but should be understood as a supplement to the ISO 9001:2015 standard and must be used together.
Therefore, for the purposes of its implementation and certification, the QMS must meet the requirements of both; IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 standards. That is, companies and their suppliers must be certified in both standards.
Major developments with respect to ISO/TS 16949
There are inherent requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard that the IATF 16949:2016 has inherited, such as:
- risk-based thinking
- planning of changes
- the understanding of the company yet another resource
The following most significant developments should be highlighted:
INCORPORATED SOFTWARE: These types of products are expressly included since computer systems have acquired greater relevance in the operation of vehicles (ABS, ESP, assisted parking, roadside assistance, etc.).
PRODUCT SAFETY: Requirements to ensure that organizations have a well-defined process that guarantees compliance with all requirements related to product safety and regulations.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY: A requirement is included that will force organizations to define and implement confidentiality policies regarding processes and products, as well as a whistle-blowing policy.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: A way of measuring quality performance and the effectiveness of the Quality Management System is established, which encompasses the methods of supervision, measurement, analysis and evaluation, as appropriate, to guarantee valid results.
CONTROL OF PROCESSES, PRODUCTS AND EXTERNAL SERVICES: Control over suppliers and outsourced processes is strengthened.
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: The need to consider the information that the different OEMs make available to their suppliers is introduced.
WARRANTY MANAGEMENT: A warranty management process must be established with a method that allows for the analysis of the parts and that covers the situation of an “undetected problem”.
The importance of the IATF 16949:2016 certification
Being certified with the IATF 16949:2016 demonstrates a clear and transparent commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
BENEFITS
- Being able to carry out internationally agreed upon and recognized practices for managing quality in the automotive sector
- Working with a common language to deal with the different businesses and suppliers around the world
- Increasing efficiency and effectiveness in the assembly line
- Implementing a model of systematic and continuous improvement in quality
- Reducing waste emissions and costs by improving the product and process quality
History of the IATF at Aratubo
Actions and strengths
Aratubo meets all the requirements and high level of commitment to quality that the certification requires. To obtain this certification, the actions carried out in 4 areas of work have been unified:
RISK-BASED THINKING
This way of thinking has led us to develop robust contingency plans aimed at reactivity and impact minimization.
IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THE CLIENT
We have an in-depth understanding of specific client requirements to ensure that our precision welded steel tubes meet their expectations.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
We develop continuous improvement projects, taking the current demands of clients as a reference and using the most innovative technologies available on the market.
HUMAN INVOLVEMENT
We count on the involvement of all the people who are part of the organization to achieve the objectives we set out.
Conclusion
Obtaining and renewing this Quality Management System Standard shows that Aratubo has a high level of commitment to quality and the continuous improvement of its processes, and that we also guarantee compliance with the strict technical specifications required by our clients.
