Automotive quality standards: ISO/TS 16949 to IATF 16949 [Best of 2016]

Following up on the last issue’s updates on the ISO 9001 standard, specifically the key changes involved with the 2015 revision, manufacturers in the automotive industry may be wondering if abiding by these changes has them covered. In some areas this may be true, but for manufacturers who have sought certification to the automotive quality standard TS 16949 need to be aware of some differences.

The 2009 version of the ISO/TS 16949 standard has been under review by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) for the past 12 months. The final standard, entitled IATF 16949, was issued on Oct. 1, 2016. It is outlined in the same manner as ISO 9001:2015 (10 sections) but does not include the actual wording. The standard refers to the applicable ISO 9001:2015 requirement and then details additional automotive requirements. All organizations seeking certification to the new automotive standard will need to obtain copies of both ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949 in order to have a clear understanding of the requirements.