The UK automotive industry’s reputation as a global leader in quality and efficiency will be boosted this October with the publication of a new global quality standard for design and manufacturing. IATF 16949:2016, which was co-written by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), replaces the ISO Technical Specification 16949, one of the industry’s most widely used international standards for quality management.
Technical Specification 16949 applies to the design/development, production and installation and servicing of products, and provides a quality management system to deliver continual improvement, with an emphasis on defect prevention and reducing variation and waste in the supply chain.
The original standard was first developed in 1999 by ISO (the International Organisation for Standardisation) and the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), a group of nine vehicle manufacturers and five national trade organisations, including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which oversees the specification in the UK.
The updated standard, which is strongly customer focused, includes new automotive-specific requirements, including those for safety-related parts and processes; product traceability; warranty management; and products with embedded software. It also includes requirements for downstream supply chain management and corporate responsibility processes.
Tamzen Isacsson, Director of Communications & International, SMMT said:
SMMT worked closely with our IATF partners in developing the new standard to ensure the requirements of the UK automotive sector are fully supported. The new standard is another example of the industry’s commitment to continuous development and delivering the highest levels of quality and efficiency. We are delighted to administer the scheme here in the UK, providing training, guidance and oversight for auditors and certification bodies.
The standard will be used in conjunction with ISO quality management systems and standard, ISO 9001:2015.
