Guide
IATF 16949 - in brief
IATF 16949 is the international standard for quality management systems in the automotive industry. It was developed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) and is applied together with ISO 9001, adding requirements specific to vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers.
The current edition is IATF 16949:2016, and the certification rules (6th edition) have applied since 1 January 2025. The aim of the standard is to prevent defects and to reduce variation and waste in the supply chain - from raw materials and components through modules and systems to the finished vehicle. The certificate is issued by a certification body recognised by IATF; Baltov Consult is a consultant - we prepare your system and your team for the audit.
Who is IATF 16949 for
The standard is for organisations that manufacture for the automotive industry:
- Manufacturers of components and assemblies
- Manufacturers of service parts for the service network
- Manufacturers of electronics and wiring harnesses
- Foundries, forging and machining shops
- Manufacturers of plastic and rubber parts
- Suppliers of coatings and heat treatment
What IATF 16949 requires
In addition to the requirements of ISO 9001, IATF 16949 requires the core tools of the automotive industry: APQP (advanced product quality planning) - a structured plan from concept to series production; PPAP (production part approval process) - evidence to the customer that the series process produces parts to drawing, every time; FMEA (failure mode and effects analysis) - an analysis in advance of what could go wrong in the product and the process, and how to prevent it; MSA (measurement system analysis) - the repeatability, reproducibility and stability of measurements; and SPC (statistical process control) - monitoring the process so that a deviation is seen before it becomes a defect.
Also required are the specific requirements of each customer, supplier management, contingency plans, total productive maintenance, systematic problem solving - for example with the 8D method, which leads from the team and immediate containment through the root cause to permanent corrective action and prevention in similar products and processes - and internal audits of the system, the processes and the product.
The benefits
For vehicle manufacturers and tier 1 suppliers, IATF 16949 certification is usually a condition of the contract. Without it, a company will struggle to enter the supply chain. Each customer also adds its own specific requirements, which are checked at the audit - so the system is built for your particular customers and products.
The core tools reduce defects and variation - and with them complaints, scrap and line stoppages. The system also provides data that management can use to run the processes instead of fighting fires.
How implementation works
- Gap analysisWe compare your system and processes with IATF 16949 and with the customer-specific requirements.
- Core toolsAPQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA and SPC - applied to your products and processes.
- Processes and documentsSuppliers, maintenance, contingency plans and problem solving.
- TrainingWe train your teams in the core tools and in internal auditing.
- Internal auditsAudits of the system, the processes and the product; management review.
- Certification auditWe prepare your organisation for the audit by a certification body recognised by IATF.
What you get
- A system meeting IATF 16949 and ISO 9001
- APQP and PPAP procedures
- Process and product FMEAs
- Measurement system analysis (MSA)
- Statistical process control (SPC)
- Contingency plans
- Trained teams and internal auditors
- Preparation for the certification audit