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Engineering Education, Resources and Standards
News Release from: TUV Rheinland UK
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 08 March 2002
New standard simplifies international
compliance
Registration to ISO/TS16949 can considerably simplify compliance with quality systems for the automotive industry worldwide.
The technical specification for the application of quality systems for automotive suppliers ISO/TS16949 was complied by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) This specification is currently released in the first edition and refers to the ISO9001:1994 as the base standard
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 22 Jan 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The standard is used for automotive suppliers, and being an international document covers worldwide requirements.
In short, understanding the existing requirements for automotive suppliers can be quite daunting: the big three in America require QS9000, manufacturers in Germany require VDA 6.1, the French require EAQF, and manufacturers in Italy require AVSQ.
ISO/TS16949 will be accepted in addition to the previously mentioned automotive standards.
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It will not replace any of the standards, but will give automotive suppliers the alternative option to implement the standard and reduce multiple registrations.
In October 2000 it was announced that the IATF is working on the second edition of the technical specification.
The second edition of the standard will reflect the requirements of the ISO9001:2000 and is expected to be published in March 2002.
The new ISO/TS16949 second edition defines that customer-specific requirements that are selected by each customer, this differs from previous automotive standards where the customer-specific requirements have been explicitly defined and referenced to in the standard.
Some of the benefits that the registration scheme include: improved product and process quality; additional confidence for global sourcing; reassignment of supplier resources to quality improvement; common quality system approach in the supply chain for supplier/subcontractor development and consistency; and a reduction in multiple 3rd party audits.
Customers transitioning to the ISO/TS16949 must firstly create a process map and understand their customer's requirements.
This can be mapped out in a flow chart and the key processes will be identified throughout the organisation.
The following are the headings for a small flow diagram depicting the transition processes within an organisation: create a process map identifying key activities; determine key customers; understand the needs/expectations of customers; check ISO/TS16949 requirements.
TUV Rheinland Group has wide experience within the automotive industry, and so is an excellent resource for those companies seeking the next step in automotive registration.
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