The IATF 16949 is an internationally recognized standard that deals with establishing a quality management system for the automotive industry. It’s a standard that many will notice doesn’t carry the ISO name behind it. The International Standards Organization was instrumental in providing a baseline for the standard, but it was developed and implemented by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF). Despite the difference in name, the standard is just as well-respected as any other ISO standard and is treated the same. Automotive manufacturers stand to benefit from implementing the system, as it improves their process efficiency and focuses on reducing defects in the manufacture of components.
The IATF used the ISO 9001 standard as its baseline for developing the IATF 16949 standard. Just like other ISO standards, it deals with offering a methodology for continual improvement of processes. The IATF is a group of stakeholders for the automotive industry. Concerned with the industry’s lack of standards, these companies got together to develop a standard that would apply to the industry as a whole. The aim was to establish a system that dealt with ensuring the quality of products from manufacturers. This standard, in theory, would result in fewer safety problems due to defective parts and less loss of revenue through product recalls. The IATF 16949 addresses all of these shortfalls by providing a standard that automotive companies can use to maintain consistency in the quality of their products.
The IATF 16949 deals specifically with the automotive industry, and as a result, puts focus on specific principles to ensure a high-quality end product. It achieves this by mitigating potential risks to reduce the incidence of disasters and the introduction of flaws during the manufacturing process. To maintain technician productivity, it considers both human and machine elements and safety considerations for workers within the plant. By implementing this standard, a business can trace its production phases and identify areas of the process that may need to be improved to generate better results. Organizations that implement the IATF 16949 standard have a more efficient and traceable manufacturing process, allowing them insight into the process’s details and where it can be improved.
The IATF 16949 standard isn’t mandatory, but implementing the standard offers some significant benefits. Certification for IATF 16949 follows much of the same procedures as being certified for other ISO standards. Among the services that IATF 16949 provides for organizations that adopt it are:
The standard isn’t necessary for general operation, but a non-certified company’s opportunities will be limited. Most businesses that decide to get certified do it for the recognition it brings. However, even if the distinction is not a factor, the cost and time savings that improving the company’s internal processes offers shouldn’t be understated. To this end, an automotive manufacturer should seriously consider undertaking the IATF 16949 certification to be more competitive in the market. If you’re interested in getting started, Sync Resource has a detailed primer that can introduce you to the standard and its requirements. Contact us today to learn more!
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