IATF 16949 Automotive Industry Quality Management System Certification

IATF(InternatioThe International Automotive Task Force (IATF) is a specialized organization established in 1996 by major automotive manufacturers and associations worldwide. Based on the integration with the ISO 9001:2000 standard and under the recognition of ISO/TC 176, the specification ISO/TS 16949:2002 was developed. It was updated in 2009 to ISO/TS 16949:2009. The new standard currently in effect is IATF 16949:2016.

To coordinate international automotive quality system standards, a specialized body known as the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) was established in 1996 by the world's major automakers and associations.Nal Automotive Task Force (IATF). The members of IATF include the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee on Quality Management and Quality Assurance (ISO/TC176), the Association of Italian Automotive Industry (ANFIA), the Committee of French Car Manufacturers (CCFA), the Federation of European Automotive Equipment Industries (FIEV), the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and car manufacturers such as BMW, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Renault, and Volkswagen.

IATF coordinated with three European standards—VDA6.1 (Germany), AVSQ (Italy), and EAQF (France)—and QS-9000 (North America). Based on the integration with ISO 9001:2000, this specification, ISO/TS 16949:2002, was established under the recognition of ISO/TC 176.

On March 1, 2002, ISO and IATF released the technical specification ISO/TS 16949:2002 for the automotive industry's quality. This specification applies to the entire supply chain for producing automotive parts and services, including OEMs. The 2002 version of ISO/TS 16949 is now in effect and certification activities have commenced.

On April 24, 2002, the three major U.S. automakers—Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler—held a press conference in Detroit, Michigan, to announce a unified quality system standard for suppliers, which is ISO/TS 16949. Suppliers who fail to obtain ISO/TS 16949 certification will also lose their qualification as suppliers.