Question: Which Organizations can obtain Certification/Registration to ISO/TS 16949:2002?



Answer: Any Organization in the Automotive Supply Chain meeting the criteria below can obtain Certification to ISO/TS 16949:2002

1. Scope 1.1 General

- This Technical Specification, in conjunction with ISO 9001:2000, defines the quality management system requirements for the design and development, production and, when relevant, installation and service of automotive-related products.

• This Technical Specification is applicable to sites of the organization where production and/or service parts specified by the customer are manufactured.

1. "Automotive" shall be understood as including the following:

- Cars, Trucks (Light, Medium and Heavy), Buses, Motorcycles

1. "Automotive" shall be understood to exclude the following:

- Industrial, Agricultural, Off-Highway (Mining, Forestry, Construction, etc.)

1. 3.1.11 "Site"

- Location at which value added manufacturing processes occur.

1. “Manufacturing”

- Process of making or fabricating:

· Production materials

· Production or service parts

· Assemblies, or

· Heat treating, welding, painting, plating, or other finishing services

Question: What are the requirements for supplier development clause 7.4.1.2?



Answer: ISO/TS 16949:2002 7.4.1.2 requires:

7.4.1.2 Supplier quality management system development
The organization shall perform supplier quality management system development with the goal of supplier conformity with this Technical Specification. Conformity with ISO 9001:2000 is the first step in achieving this goal.

Note: The prioritization of suppliers for development depends upon, for example, the supplier’s quality performance and the importance of the product supplied.

Unless otherwise specified by the customer, suppliers to the organization shall be third party registered to ISO 9001:2000 by an accredited third-party certification body.



IATF Guidance to ISO/TS 16949:2002 states:

7.4.1.2 Supplier quality management system development
The burden is on the organization to demonstrate compliance of its suppliers to this requirement including evidence of alternative arrangements specified by the customer.
In situations where there are multiple customers, “customer approval” of alternative arrangements is based upon those customers impacted by that supplier.
“Supplier” in this clause (7.4.1.2) refers to sites where production and/or service parts specified by the customer are manufactured. See also the definition of “manufacturing”, 3.1.6.
Supplier quality management system development is the demonstrated performance of a process with the goal to achieve conformity with ISO/TS 16949:2002. Indicators of performance include:

1. conformity with ISO9001:2000

1. achievement of ISO9001:2000 certification, as a minimum, unless otherwise specified by the customer

1. compliance with ISO/TS 16949:2002, unless otherwise specified by the customer

1. evidence of a process to achieve the above steps

Supplier development was written purposely that way, with the provision that "unless otherwise agreed with the customer" - meaning - if not possible to do, get customer approval of a different approach. "Customer" in this context is defined in the guidance supplement as the "affected" customers. Also, guidance includes wording "a process to achieve the above" - meaning you could accept a plan to achieve the requirement - and as far as maximum timing of that plan - our view is that it should be achievable during the three year life of the certificate. Surveillance visits shall monitor achievement of the plan.