Quality Management System in the Automotive Industry & ISO/TS 16949

TS 16949 applies to the design/development, production and, when relevant, installation and servicing of automotive-related products.
Automotive manufacturers require suppliers to certify their quality systems to the industry’s own requirements. It can be a challenge to make the right decision for your organization and develop a system that will satisfy your customers in the years ahead.
To make a decision, it is critical that you understand the various options available, the contractual requirements, and deadlines from the automotive manufacturers. There is one international standard, ISO/TS 16949 which incorporates certification to the quality management system standard ISO 9001.
It is important to note that the general trend is a move away from the national standard schemes to the international ISO/TS 16949, but so far finalized transition dates have not been set for all of them.
The automotive/motorcycle industry is one of the most challenging industries in the world. It operates under extreme pressures of cost and time. Being able to rely on suppliers is key, not only for the car/motorcycle manufacturers, but also for other organizations in the supply chain. They all require suppliers that have their processes under control, that understand their customers' specific requirements and focus on continuous improvement. Appropriate certification of your management system offers a decisive advantage in demonstrating that your company matches these criteria.

ISO/TS 16949 is the only standard recognized worldwide related to quality management as it applies to any organization active in the automotive/motorcycle supply chain. It is based on:
- The eight quality management principles (all fundamental to good business practice): Customer focus, Leadership, Involvement of people, Process approach, System approach to management, Continual improvement, Fact based decision-making, Mutually beneficial supplier relationships
- Fulfillment of customer specific requirements
The automotive industry with its global activities stands for excellent process quality, continual improvement, and the power of innovation.  ISO/TS 16949 is the Technical Specification for Quality Management Systems applicable to suppliers in this industry sector. It was developed by a joint working group, the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), with the objective of improving both the quality capability and the entire certification process throughout the supply chain.
The aim of ISO/TS 16949 is the development of a quality management system that provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the automotive supply chain. TS 16949 applies to the design/development, production and, when relevant, installation and servicing of automotive-related products. It is based on ISO 9000.
The requirements are intended to be applied throughout the supply chain.  Today, vehicle assembly plants are encouraged to gain ISO/TS16949 certification.
If you want to supply many of the world's largest automotive manufacturers you will need to achieve this standard because it is a contractual requirement for many of them.
ISO/TS16949:2002 is an ISO technical specification which aligns existing US, German, French and Italian automotive quality system standards within the global automotive industry. It specifies the quality system requirements for the design/development, production, installation and servicing of automotive-related products.
The global automotive industry demands world class levels of product quality, productivity and competitiveness as well as continual improvement. To achieve this goal many vehicle manufacturers insist that suppliers adhere to strict technical specifications laid out in a quality management standard for suppliers to the automotive sector, known as ISO /TS 16949:2002.
ISO/TS 16949:2002 has been developed by the industry, the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), to encourage improvement in both the supply chain and the certification process. In fact, for the majority of leading vehicle manufacturers, certification to this specification is a mandatory requirement for doing business.
This specification aligns and supersedes existing US, German, French and Italian automotive quality system standards, including QS-9000, VDA6.1, EAQF and ASQ. It specifies the quality system requirements for the design/development, production, installation and servicing of all automotive-related products. First published in March 1999 and revised in 2002, there are now over 25,000 certificates issued in 80 countries and economies.
ISO/TS16949:2002 is relevant to all types of automotive supply companies, from small manufacturers to multi-site multinational organizations located anywhere in the world. However, it is only applicable to sites where production or service parts are manufactured.
Organizations wishing to break into the automotive market must wait until they are on an automotive customer's potential supplier list before they can progress with certification to this specification.
History
Beginning in 1994 with the successful launch of QS 9000, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM recognised the increased value that could be derived from an independent quality system audit programme, and the efficiencies that could be gained in the supply chain by having common system requirements.
In 1996, the success of these efforts led to a move toward the development of a globally harmonised quality management system requirements document. From this, the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) was formed to lead the development effort.
The IATF is a group of automotive manufacturer and trade associations whose common goal is to improve the quality of products to the automotive industry worldwide. IATF members include the "Big 3", along with Fiat, Citroen, VW, Renault and national automotive trade associations from the USA, Germany, France, UK, and Italy. The Japanese vehicle association, JAMA, has also been involved with the IATF's efforts to develop ISO/TS 16949.
The result of the IATF's effort is the ISO/TS 16949 specification which forms the requirements of ISO 9001 for automotive production and relevant service part organisations.
Purpose
ISO TS 16949 is the primary standard for the automotive industry throughout the world. It combines existing automotive quality standards and QM system requirements in the one certification, making costly multiple certification unnecessary.
Site Certification
Based on ISO 9001, ISO TS 16949 has been perfectly designed for the requirements of your industry. It outlines the requirements for product development, manufacture, and, where applicable, product assembly and maintenance. The certification always applies to one production site.
A focus on the customer
In addition to focusing on the key requirements of a quality management system (continuous improvement), ISO TS 16949 is also concerned with customer satisfaction. Customer requirements are implemented to the letter, giving you a firm foundation of trust in your customer relations.