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IATF 16949 Certification

Conformity Mark IATF 16949

IATF 16949: Quality standard for suppliers to the automotive industry

Certification in accordance with the IATF 16949 quality standard is practically a must for suppliers to the automotive industry. The standard is recognised worldwide and is the decisive prerequisite for being able to supply automotive manufacturers. This is because most of them require IATF 16949 certification for a business relationship.

Furthermore, increasing cost pressure is forcing companies to develop and implement efficient and capable processes in all areas. Therefore, by certifying your quality management system in accordance with IATF 16949, you can ensure that you fulfil the quality requirements of the automotive industry in the supply chain and thus increase your market opportunities.

The regulations focus on the continuous improvement of the system, process and ultimately product quality of companies in the areas of development and production. In this context, the respective development and production processes are considered, with the focus on error prevention in accordance with a risk-based and process-orientated approach.

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Target group

The target group for IATF 16949 certification includes suppliers to the automotive industry who must meet globally recognised quality standards in order to establish business relationships with automotive manufacturers. This certification is aimed at companies that have to develop and implement efficient processes under increasing cost pressure in order to fulfil the quality requirements of the automotive industry and increase their market opportunities.

The benefits of IATF 16949 certification

  • Implementation of an internationally recognised quality management standard
  • International market access

  • Certified proof of continuous improvement of your system, process and product quality

     

  • Certified proof of the application of processes to reduce errors and risks
  • Acceptance and trust from customers and partner organisations, as the certificate demonstrates that you meet industry and customer-specific requirements in the automotive industry

Objectives of the QM standard IATF 16949

With a certification of your quality management system according to IATF 16949 you prove that you:

  • fulfil the industry-specific requirements for management system and customer-oriented processes,
  • fulfil the specific system requirements for quality management and give top priority to customer satisfaction.

Customer information on the ‘Rules for Achieving and Maintaining IATF Recognition, 6th edition, 2025’

As announced in January 2024 in the "IATF Stakeholder Communiqué" on the "Release of Rules, 6th Edition" on the IATF Global Oversight Websitethe IATF has revised its certification rules and has now published them. The IATF Global Oversight now grants a maximum period of nine months from 31 March 2024 to implement the changes required in the "Rules for Achieving and Maintaining IATF Recognition, 6th edition, 2025" (hereinafter "Rules 6th Edition"), both for the certification bodies recognised by the IATF and for their clients.

The IATF Rules 6th Edition come into force and must be fully implemented by 1 January 2025. From 1 January 2025, the IATF Rules 5th Edition and all sanctioned interpretations and frequently asked questions of the IATF Rules 5th Edition will become obsolete.

Since 31 March 2024, the IATF Rules 6th edition can be obtained by interested parties via IATF Oversight Offices. Editions are available in different languages. The German version will be available from May 2024.

  • Stage 1 audit takes place in 2 stages (including a review of the applicability of IATF 16949, certification structure and the planned scope, followed by an assessment of readiness for certification by means of an on-site audit using the "Gemba" method.
  • Decision by the certification body on readiness for stage 2 audit or repetition of stage 1 audit after max. 15 days.
  • If the readiness is not given, the stage 1 audit can be repeated within a maximum of 6 months with the same auditor.
  • If necessary, at least one additional hour is required to review open points from a previous stage 1 audit.

  • This includes a complete system audit (all requirements of IATF 16949 must be audited and assessed with regard to effective implementation).
  • The stage 2 audit can take place at the earliest 20 days and must take place at the latest 90 days after the final discussion of the stage 1 audit and with a positive readiness assessment by the certification body.

  • The last day of a re-certification audit must be completed no later than 3 years -3 months/+0 days after the last day of the first stage 2, re-certification or transfer audit. Otherwise the certificate will be withdrawn immediately.
  • The last day of a surveillance audit must be completed -3/+3 months after the last initial stage 2, recertification or transfer audit ("ARD"). Otherwise the certificate will be withdrawn immediately.

  • Application possible from production plants "sites" to be included, reduction of on-site audit time per "site" by max. 15%. Depending on the scope of the group scheme, a reduction of up to 40% per site was previously permitted).

  • Total reduction in on-site audit time can now be up to a maximum of 30%, previously up to 50%.

  • These may be a maximum of 10 miles / 16 km and a maximum travelling time of one hour from the main site. If this is not the case, former extended manufacturing sites must be regarded as sites and subjected to an initial certification procedure (possibly in the group scheme). This can take place in the underlying audit cycle.

  • If the production site is relocated, an initial certification audit must be carried out involving the supporting sites.

  • The client must confirm the audit date to the certification body at least 90 days before the start of the audit (First Audit Day, "FAD").
  • A later postponement is only possible with documented, verifiable justification.
  • Extended requirements for content and date for providing information on audit preparation / readiness review to the certification body.

  • The audit planning by the certification body must demonstrably comprise at least 0.50 person days. An entry in the IATF database is required for this purpose.
  • The information on audit preparation must be submitted by the client to the certification body at least 30 days before the first audit day. Otherwise, the certification body may postpone the audit, which may result in the loss of the certificate if the specified audit dates in the cycle cannot be met.
  • If evidence of the client's management review is not available at the certification body 30 days before the audit, or can only be reviewed on site, at least two additional hours must be scheduled for assessment before the audit begins.
  • The review of the client performance data must be conducted during the opening session / introductory meeting, i.e. no previously mandatory additional hour before the start of the audit is required.
  • The audits must cover all production processes and these must be operational at the time of the audit. This means that there must be no production processes that are not being implemented at the time of the audit. Otherwise, the certification body can postpone the audit, which can also lead to the loss of the certificate if the specified audit dates in the cycle cannot be met. - The audit plan must be submitted to the client by the certification body at least 14 days before the start of the audit.

  • If the client's problem-solving process for identified non-conformities is not effective, a major non-conformity must be written.
  • For major nonconformities ("NC1"), the client must submit the containments, evidence of the effectiveness of the containments, root cause analysis, corrective actions taken and a systemic corrective action plan within 15 days of completion of the on-site audit.
  • If the 15-day feedback is rejected by the certification body, a revision by the client and a new review / assessment by the auditor must take place by day 30 after completion of the audit.
  • The 60-day deadline for deviation management, including verification of the effectiveness of the measures by the client, continues to apply. Similarly, deviations must be assessed as "open but 100% resolved" or closed within 90 days of the last audit day.
  • If the systemic corrective actions for nonconformities are not effectively implemented, the certificate must be withdrawn.

  • Minor non-conformities ("NC2"): 0.5 - 1.0 hour (in the next regular audit or during a special audit).
  • Major non-conformities ("NC1"): 1.0 - 3.0 hours in each case as part of a special audit.

  • Audit plans, reports, non-conformance reports and their status must be reviewed and documented for all Remote Support Locations ("RSL") supporting the site to be audited. This also applies to remote support locations audited by other certification bodies.
  • IATF 16949 certificates may only identify remote support locations where the effectiveness of the support functions in the plant ("site") has been verified.

  • These are conditionally possible for surveillance audits for remote support locations (Stand-Alone Remote Support Location ("SA-RSL") where no product or material handling takes place.
  • The definition of remote functions is shown in the table in Appendix 2 of the Rules 6th edition.

  • Process begins with customer complaint or deviation in the audit
  • The duration of the decertification process is limited to a maximum of 120 days. In the event of a major non-conformity ("NC1"), the certificate is suspended on the date of the certification body's decision, max. 15 days after completion of the on-site audit.
  • In the event of performance complaints from customers against the client: The client must respond in the IATF Performance Complaint Management System ("PCMS") within 20 days of request by the certification body, if applicable.
  • If a certificate is withdrawn, the client must remove all references to IATF certification from the company's public image.

ISO 9001 as a basis

The IATF 16949 standard is based on the quality management standard ISO 9001. The standard is supplemented by industry-specific requirements of the automotive industry. In this way, the standard offers a holistic approach to quality and performance improvement in the automotive supply chain, from the upstream supplier ("sub-tier") to the direct supplier ("first-tier").

Based on ISO 9001, IATF 16949 is also organised according to the high-level structure. The standardised chapter numbering and terminology enable simple integration into existing management systems, provided these are also subject to the high-level structure.

The audit process for certification according to IATF 16949

1

Step 01

Enquiry, offer preparation & explanation

2

Step 02

Commissioning & individual scheduling

3

Step 03

Audit: Understanding the organisation & determining readiness for certification

4

Step 04

Identifying potential for improvement

5

Step 05

Fast four-eye check & certificate creation

6

Step 06

External TÜV certificate

7

Step 07

Continuous further development of the management system & competitiveness

Frequently asked questions

FAQ on IATF 16949

IATF 16949 certification is important for all companies that manufacture and supply products for the automotive industry - from upstream suppliers to direct suppliers. This includes companies involved in series and spare parts production as well as providers of value-adding services.

With certification, suppliers prove that they fulfil the QM requirements, undergo a continuous improvement process and implement customer-specific QM system requirements. In addition, many car manufacturers and suppliers require the certificate for joint co-operation.

IATF 16949 is an independent QM standard that contains the requirements of ISO 9001 but is certified independently. If a certificate based on ISO 9001 is also being sought, fulfilment of the ISO 9001 requirements can also be assessed in an IATF-based audit. However, the certification procedure is then carried out independently of IATF 16949.

ISO/TS 16949 is the predecessor standard to IATF 16949 and is no longer valid. Since 15 September 2018, companies must have switched to IATF 16949.

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