What does IATF 16949 cover?
IATF 16949 adds automotive quality management expectations to ISO 9001. It emphasizes defect prevention, process consistency and customer-specific requirements. Certification eligibility and scope must be checked against the applicable IATF rules.
Who it is for
Eligible automotive manufacturing sites and their relevant support functions.
Key areas to understand
Start with these areas. Identify which requirements apply to your activities and who is responsible for them.
- 1Incorporate customer-specific requirements into process controls.
- 2Connect process risk analysis, control plans and production checks.
- 3Investigate failures and verify effective corrective action.
Evidence to prepare
This list is a starting point. Check the standard for all required documents. For each item, record who is responsible, the activity or site it relates to, and a recent example showing how it works.
- Customer-specific requirements matrix
- Process risk analysis and control plans
- Measurement and process-performance evidence
- Production approval and change records
- Customer complaint and corrective-action records
Keep records that explain what was checked, which requirement was used and who checked it. Include any action taken when a requirement was not met. Link each record to the work it supports.
An internal audit example
Suggested checks from 4Auditee
Choose a product characteristic linked to a customer complaint. Compare the risk analysis, control plan, work instruction and actual checks on the line. Then inspect a later production run to see whether the corrective action changed control effectiveness.
Choose a sample that suits your activities and risks. If you find a gap, record the requirement, the evidence and what was missing. Check more examples if the first results suggest a wider problem.
A common problem to check
Updating a control plan without updating the operator’s instruction creates a gap between planned and actual control. Trace changes across the full document set.
Prepare for assessment
The assessment type for this guide is automotive certification scheme. Confirm the requirements, what will be assessed and how the assessment will work with the responsible body or customer. These steps help you prepare. You must also follow the scheme’s official rules.
- Define what is covered. List the products, services, activities and sites. Record the standard edition, additional scheme rules and customer requirements.
- Find what is missing. Compare the requirements with current work. Prioritise gaps by risk. Assign someone responsible and a completion date.
- Keep records of everyday work. Check a sample of actual records and speak with the people involved. Make sure they understand their responsibilities.
- Check the results. Complete internal reviews and audits. Check that corrective actions worked before closing problems.
From one site to many
Make it easy to find who is responsible at each site. Keep company policies separate from records of local work. Link each site’s records to its activities, risks and requirements so you can spot gaps at individual sites.
Sites that share a management system do not automatically qualify for one certificate or assessment. Confirm which sites can be included and how they will be checked with the assessment body.
About this guide and its sources
4Auditee wrote this guide using the public source below. The evidence list, audit example and preparation steps are our suggestions. Read the official standard and scheme rules for the full requirements. This guide does not include the standard’s full text or provide certification.
DNV: IATF 16949 reference information