IATF 16949 is the quality management standard for the automotive supply chain. It sits on top of ISO 9001 and adds the tools vehicle makers use to prevent defects, such as PPAP, FMEA, control plans and statistical process control.
Vehicle makers and most tier-one suppliers require it because it gives them a common, audited baseline. A certified supplier should already plan, measure and react to problems in a way the auto industry recognises.
Who sets and certifies it
The standard is published by the International Automotive Task Force, a group of vehicle makers and their national trade associations. The current version is IATF 16949:2016, used together with ISO 9001:2015.
IATF 16949 is not a standalone standard. A plant cannot hold it without also meeting every ISO 9001 requirement, and the auditors check both in the same visit.
Only certification bodies licensed by the IATF can issue a valid certificate. A certificate from an unrecognised body is not accepted. You can ask the supplier for its certificate number and check it with the issuing body.
What it adds to ISO 9001
- Product safety controls for parts that affect vehicle safety.
- Advance quality planning before production, with a formal part approval such as PPAP.
- Process FMEA and a control plan for every part, described in control plans and PFMEA.
- Measurement system analysis, so gauges are shown to be fit for the tolerance.
- Statistical process control and capability studies on key characteristics.
- Rules for change control, traceability, warranty analysis and supplier management.
- Customer-specific requirements that each vehicle maker adds on top.
Do you need it?
If you supply a vehicle maker or a tier-one supplier, you will almost certainly need it. Your customer will also need to approve the plant, and may audit it against its own customer-specific requirements.
If you sell aftermarket parts or industrial parts, it is not a legal requirement. A well-run ISO 9001 plant can make good parts. Still, an IATF plant is often a safer choice for critical parts, because its staff already use the tools.
Remember that a certificate shows a system was audited. It does not prove your part will be right. Check the plant's daily practice, as described in auditing an engineering factory.
What to check
- Confirm the certificate is valid, current and issued by an IATF-recognised body.
- Confirm the certificate covers the site and processes that will make your part.
- Ask to see a real PPAP file and a control plan for a similar part.
- Look at how the plant handles a customer complaint, from report to corrective action.
- Read the most recent audit report summary, including any major nonconformities and how they were closed.
Next step
We check certificates, review quality files and audit the plant floor before you order. Book a free sourcing review to find out how this applies to your parts.