Under QS-9000, suppliers relied on the Supplier Quality Requirements Task Force for guidance and direction in dealing with questions related to the standard’s requirements. With the global application of ISO/TS 16949:2002, a globalized group was needed to offer the same direction that was given under QS-9000. This group is the International Automotive Task Force and is made up of the SQRTF as well as representatives from European automotive organizations.

The IATF has developed three companion documents for ISO/TS 16949:2002:

• Quality Management System Assessment Check-List Based on Process Approach Audit (also known the Checklist to ISO/TS 16949:2002)
• IATF Guidance to ISO/TS 16949:2002
• IATF Automotive Certification Scheme for ISO/TS 16949:2002, Rules for Achieving IATF Recognition

We will examine each of these documents, touching upon their contents and how your organization should use them to ensure that you and your registrar are meeting ISO/TS 16949’s requirements. The goal of these three documents, in conjunction with ISO/TS 16949 and customer-specific requirements, is to assist organizations in achieving continual improvement in meeting customer requirements and thereby customer satisfaction.

IATF Checklist to ISO/TS 16949:2002

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