ISO9001:2015 complimentary to IATF 16949 is a Quality Management System that is developed on the 7 principles of QMS. Yet many organizations face many challenges during ISO 9001:2015 to IATF 16949 Transition. Developed on same principles yet IATF 16949 being automotive standard is focused more on risk based thinking and contingency planning. Many suppliers that have ISO 9001:2015 certification must go through big transition to be certified to IATF 16949 as more requirements gets added to the list.
IATF 16949 introduces Customer Specific Requirements (CSR) integration into your QMS processes. Each customer has their own requirements for product and process, and supplier is required to fulfill all the requirements. The requirements are aligned with the QMS Standard and gets linked into the organization processes. Supplier development and performance monitoring is another area that has been given importance. Suppliers are the stakeholder who can affect ability of the organization in achieving its objectives.
Prevention is made primary action in mitigating risk and unforeseen events. Plan all actions and their failure and risk ahead of time and take actions to achieve objective.
The incorporation of the 5 core tools is mandatory.
All these tools defined above explains if you don’t plan as required you plan to fail. These are all the proactive tools helping organizations in unfolding all the hidden areas and anticipating failure mode in each step, making them prepared for uncertainty and actions that will be required to the mitigate the event.
In event of field failure or return organization should have a Warranty Management Process in place to effectively handle the field returns and consider them as opportunity for improvement to prevent future recurrences. IATF 16949 clause 10.2.5 signifies the importance of Warranty Management. Warranty claims are another form of customer dissatisfaction and potential recalls. It acts as a KPI for organization’s performance and if it is meeting its intended goal. Here are the main elements your warranty-management system should cover.
Transitioning from ISO 9001 only to IATF means treating warranty data as a measurable performance input, not just a service after-thought.
Error-proofing is nothing else but mistake proofing. The concept is the same and it means preventing error from happening in the first place either during designing phase or manufacturing process.
Inspection is a weak process, and system should not rely on inspection. The learning curve declines during inspection as people become bias while performing inspection. Therefore, process should be robust enough to prevent or detect defect in the first place. Error Proofing helps organizations to strengthens its process capability and reliability. The standard as per Clause 10.2.4 (Improvement) requires organizations to establish a documented process of testing the error-proofing devices (or methods) for failure.
Customer satisfaction is the primary and most important objective that can open the door for new and sustained business. Organizations achieves IATF 16949 Certification through proper transition. The better supplier performance, the better chances of getting OEM recognition and new contracts. Suppliers improves their internal processes and external performances through proper transition. The supplier is prone towards risk based thinking and contingency plan for each unexpected outcome. Process control becomes more robust and effective. As controls are stronger and contingency actions are in place it reduces repeat issue and audit nonconformances.
Kadmar Consultants Approach
Conduct ISO-to-IATF gap analysis.
Implement corrective actions and process enhancements.
Provide training, audit preparation, and continuous improvement support.
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If you’re preparing for IATF 16949 certification, don’t go in blind. We build businesses and help them grow. Organizations achieve operational excellence through Quality Management System that is embedded into their processes. IATF 16949 and ISO 9001:2015 is not just a paper document but a living standard.