What is TS 16949? 

ISO/TS 16949:2009 is a common quality system requirement jointly developed by the US, German, French and Italian automotive industry in a concerted effort to improve quality and assure the integrity of supplies to the industry. The requirement is applicable to any organisation that manufactures components, assemblies and parts for supply to the automotive industry.

It is based on ISO 9001:2008 to which has been added specific requirements of the automotive sector.

Greater management involvement

• Top Management must review all key processes and the quality objectives should be included in the business plan
• The quality team must be informed of processes not meeting expectations and they should have the ability to stop production to correct quality problems
• Management reviews should be recorded and include the cost effect of poor quality

Greater resource management

• There should be a multi-disciplinary approach whereby design, development, production and quality teams are competent in each other’s areas.
• Product safety should be built in to the design and development process
• Employees should be motivated to achieve quality objectives and there should be clear contingency plans in the event of an emergency
• Inconsistent application of housekeeping standards across the organisation are to be treated as quality and safety issues

Product Realisation

• Product and Process design and development are a single process
• A Control Plan that follows customer requirements should be produced that includes all information relating to the product, processes, measurement, reaction plan and corrective actions. Any system changes should be reflected in the Control Plan.
• There must be a plan to identify, measure and reduce variances
• Suppliers must be accredited to TS 16949 or ISO 9001

Measurement, Analysis, & Improvement

• Manufacturing process studies are required with improvements made to reduce variation
• The need for layout inspections and functional verifications for the product as specified in the Control Plan

Some of the benefits of the ISO/TS 16949:2009 requirement standard are:

• Customer satisfaction: Through delivery of products that consistently meet customer requirements
• Global recognition as a reputable supplier: Certification is recognized and accepted throughout the automotive supply chain as an industry benchmark
• Reduced cost of compliance with customer specifications: Through implementation of a single management system and reduced audit requirements
• Reduced operating costs: Through continual improvement of processes and resulting operational efficiencies
• Legal compliance: By understanding how statutory and regulatory requirements impact the organization and its customers
• Improved risk management: Through greater consistency and traceability of products and services
• Proven business credentials: Through independent verification against recognized standards

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