IATF 16949 Rules is here!

IATF 16949 Rules 5 “Automotive certification scheme for IATF 16949, Rules for achieving IATF recognition” has been released.  You’ll use this new publication to better understand how you’ll meet the IATF 16949 2016 Edition certification requirements.  The Rules include the criteria for certification body recognition, the audit process, auditor qualifications and information on the certificates.

What is the IATF 16949?  This new 2016 Edition provides the requirements for quality management system certification for the automotive industry.  You’ll use this document to find the requirements you must meet in order to get your certification.

What are the IATF 16949 Rules?  These are the criteria that certification bodies must meet in order to provide you with the auditing and other services needed for your certification.  It is used by the IATF and sister organizations (IATF Global Oversight) to qualify companies as “third party” certifiers.  In other words, IATF provides the requirements for quality certification.  It then sets up the criteria for auditing to those requirements in the Rules.  An oversight scheme authorizes 3rd parties to assess whether or not companies like yours meet the quality requirements.

Why purchase a copy of the IATF 16949 Rules?  If you are a part of a third party certification organization, the need is clear.  There is a new edition of the IATF 16949 and of course that means new auditing responsibilities.  But if you are in an organization that gets audited, the need is still there.

Reviewing the IATF 16949 Rules document if you need to get your certification provides you with a clearer understanding of what to expect in your audit and from your third party certification company.  You’ll get a better understanding of contractual issues, like what will be included in the contract, change notices, and so on.  It lays out the certification cycle, which is a 3-year scheme.  It shows how many days you should expect your auditor to be on site.  And it gives you insight into how your auditing team will be established.

A number of other areas are covered as well.  You’ll get a clear view of the reports that are generated in this process.  This includes such things as reporting and correcting nonconformities. There are 4 pages of terms and definitions.  The audit activity flow is spelled out.  And special audits are addressed.  The document ends with a number of samples for audit day calculation, shift verification of audits, audit planning output, and eligibility criteria for the certificate structure.

As you can see, this document is a useful companion to the IATF 16949.  You’ll want to get a copy soon and you’ll want to use an authorized standards distributor like Document Center Inc.  Search for and order standards at our webstore, www.document-center.com.  Here’s a direct link to the order page for the IATF 16949 Rules.

Document Center also has a number of services to help you meet your compliance requirements.  Check in with our staff about notification services and enterprise access solutions.  Our Standards Online service, for example, can provide your organization with 24/7 cloud access to the standards you use in your business.  Find out more by reaching out to us by phone (650-591-7600) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’re your Standards Experts!