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The aim of ISO/TS 16949 is the development of a quality management system that provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain.

TS 16949 applies to the design/development, production and, when relevant, installation and servicing of automotive-related products.

The requirements are intended to be applied throughout the supply chain. For the first time vehicle assembly plants will be encouraged to seek ISO/TS 16949 certification.

What is ISO/TS 16949:2002 ?

The ISO/TS 16949:2002 standard was published in March 2002 together with the following supporting documents:

• guidance for implementation,
• IATF rules,
• checklist,
• core tools, such as APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC,
• customer specific requirements (released by Vehicle Manufacturers - VMs).

This new standard is more demanding than QS-9000 because it has been strengthened in many key areas which should benefit the manufacturer and its customers:

• Senior management involvement through setting and communicating quality objectives, allocating resource and integrating these into business plans.
• Product realization, which covers the whole process from planning & design, through production, sales, processing, delivery and aftersales service.
• Analysis and improvement, where data is used to continually improve product quality and processes.
• Supplier development where organisations must demonstrate a stronger commitment to improving their own supply base.
• Organizational performance requirements focusing on delivered part quality, on time delivery and customer performance.

VMs are generally either making ISO/TS 16949 a mandatory requirement or encouraging their suppliers to upgrade to the new standard. VMs including Ford, General Motors, Peugeot-Citroen, Renault, Fiat, BMW, DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen accept ISO/TS 16949 as an alternative to current automotive standards.

VMs have made it fairly clear that ISO/TS 16949 registration will help suppliers achieve "preferred supplier" status. QS-9000 is seen as having failed either as a measure of overall supplier performance or as a tool to ensure that quality products are delivered.

However, each OEM will have slightly different requirements and will adopt one of the following positions with respect to ISO/TS 16949 registration:

• suppliers must be able to demonstrate that they are in compliance only with no registration required,
• registration is optional, but upgrading from QS-9000 is encouraged and ISO/TS 16949 is recognized as a substitute for QS-9000.
• Phased in approach across the supply chain, meaning different rules apply at different levels.
• Mandate registration with fixed dates by which it has to be achieved.

How is ISO/TS 16949 better than QS-9000?

• Vehicle Manufacturers - VMs view:
• Registration involves a generally more rigorous assessment, and is better guarantor of supplier performance,
• increased emphasis on customer requirements,
• less bureaucracy at all levels,
• reduced variation in assessment (performance),
• better control of the registration and assessor training process,
• focus on continual improvement.
• Supplier's view:
• increased reciprocal recognition of registration amongst VMs due to clearer and stronger oversight and greater consistency in the registration process,
• avoidance of multiple registration to VDA6, EAQF, AVSQ & QS-9000, thereby avoiding duplication in terms of preparation, documentation and 3rd party audits,
• vocabulary consistent with ISO 9001:2000 and therefore ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System),
• adoption of a process approach which is more consistent with the way the most effective companies are currently operating,
• increased focus on continual improvement.