Global Sustainable Mobility: Worldwide Manufacturing Aligns along Certification Standard
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| ISO/TS 16949:2002 is a technical specification that was written by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) to specify the quality system requirements for automotive suppliers. Based on ISO 9000:2000, the specification aligns existing automotive quality system standards for the United States, Germany, France, and Italy. According to Frank Lomas, technical and certification manager, Regulatory Affairs and Technical Department at BSI, "The introduction of ISO/TS 16949:2002 has continued to facilitate the reduction in the number of standards that were applicable to automotive supply-chain companies." With this standard, organizations no longer have to meet the requirements of several different documents. They are certified against one international automotive management system standard. Lomas says that the "recognition of a single standard allows automotive suppliers to reduce the variation in the requirements placed upon their quality management systems."
Simplifying the process of meeting the demands of global industry, Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler, PSA Peugot-Citroen, Renault, Fiat, and BMW are among the vehicle manufacturers who recognize the 2002 publication. "The technical specification is accepted by most of the automotive OEM community as the most suitable standard for third-party certification, replacing QS-9000 and VDA 6.1," says Lomas. Some of the possible benefits of the implementation of ISO/TS 16949 include the reduction of time spent complying with multiple third-party requirements, thus freeing time for opportunities that develop business; decreased frequency of audits; a common and consistent approach to management for organizations across the supply chain, allowing them to work together more efficiently; and a common language that increases understanding and eases the process of implementation and maintenance of the system.
The production of this specification was truly a global effort. The IATF, which wrote the standard and acts as the accreditation body, controlling the certification process, is made up of an international group of carmakers and national trade associations. This kind of cooperation has led to successful results. "The issue of the technical specification," Lomas points out, "along with the formation of the IATF as the accreditation body, has moved the process forward."
In the five-year period since the issuance of the specification, its impact on the alignment of worldwide auto manufacturing has been felt. As Lomas notes, "Feedback from the OEMs indicates that the organizations that have transitioned from the previous standards to the new specification have improved their performance in terms of customer satisfaction." Manufacturers and suppliers across the globe benefit from the enhanced relationship promoted by this specification and from the cost-efficiency and practicality of compliance with it. "Standards have been raised," says Lomas, "for the achievement of certification and the requirements for auditors undertaking the certification process."
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