ISO/TS 16949:2002 FAQs [IATF]

ISO/TS 16949:2002 FAQs

IATF communicated FAQs are clarifications of existing requirements. They are not new requirements, thus the original requirements should form the basis for reporting any noncompliance and not the FAQs.




Applicability/Scope (Revised July 2003. Revisions in blue type)

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


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.

"Automotive" shall be understood as including the following:

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

"Automotive" shall be understood to exclude the following:

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

3.1.11 "Site"

• Location at which value added manufacturing processes occur.

“Manufacturing”

• Process of making or fabricating:

Production materials
Production or service parts
Assemblies, or
Heat treating, welding, painting, plating, or other finishing services


Supplier Development (Revised July 2003. Answer reformatted for clarity)

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: conformity with ISO9001:2000
achievement of ISO9001:2000 certification, as a minimum, unless otherwise specified by the customer
compliance with ISO/TS 16949:2002, unless otherwise specified by the customer
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.

Audit Day Calculations (New, Adopted July 2003)

Question: What is the correct way to calculate Audit Days, covering supporting functions for Site and Corporate Certificates?

Answer: A Site Certificate minimum audit day calculation is based upon the number of people that support the site activities, regardless of their location (see Site Certificate Calculation Examples 1 - 5). For minimum audit day calculation purposes, when there are multiple site certificates supported by a common remote location, it is expected to apportion the remote employees among the site headcounts using the percentage
headcount of the sites (see Site Certificate Calculation Example 6).
A Corporate Certificate minimum audit day calculation is similar to a multiple site
certificates supported by a common remote location calculation. For calculation
purposes, remote location employees should be apportioned among the site headcounts using the percentage headcount of the sites (see Corporate Certificate Calculation
Example 1).

Note 1: The Annex 3 audit days are true minimums. Therefore all minimum audit day calculations not at _.0 or _.5 should be rounded up to the nearest ½ day.

Note 2: It is the responsibility of the certification body to develop an audit plan whose
total days are based upon the minimum calculation. How the days are distributed between the site(s) and any remote location(s) is the responsibility of the certification body. If the certification body moves significantly from the base calculation, an
explanation is required in the audit plan documents.

Note 3: Where there are questions on minimum audit day calculations, they should be directed to the Certification Body or its Oversight Office.

Additional Manuals

Question: In addition to ISO/TS 16949:2002 requirements document are there additional reference manuals, which we should use?

Answer: As well as Rules, Guidance and the Checklist, additional Manuals are those
specified by the Customer Specifics, either as stand alone documents or in their
PurchaseAgreement. If the customers to the Organization do not have Customer
Specifics then the Organization is free to choose from the manuals available.

Less than 12 months Performance Data

Question: How can a Site working towards ISO/TS 16949:2002 show 12 months performance data?

Answer: For an established facility the last 12 months performance data should be provided against the products in production and the QMS being used.

Note: In the case of a new facility the audit should be conducted once ISO/TS 16949:2002 QMS compliance is established the Certification Body is permitted to issue a letter of conformance. After 12 months production, when performance data is verified, the Certification process can proceed.

Initial Audit Timing (New, Adopted July 2003)

Question: For corporate situations where all the remote/support locations cannot be audited within the 90-day T2 requirement, may the audit timing be adjusted?

Answer: When a Certification Body has a corporate certificate client situation where the Annex 1, T2 90-day timing rule (see also Annex 1.2, bullet 2) cannot be applied, the CB may apply to their Oversight Office for a waiver. The Oversight Office shall have the
authority to grant such waivers on a case-by-case basis. In general for corporate certificates, it is expected that the remote/support locations be audited prior to the site audits.

One audit for ISO/TS 16949:2002 and other management systems standards (New, Adopted January 20, 2004

Question: Is it possible to conduct one audit for ISO/TS 16949:2002 and other management system standards?

Answer If an IATF contracted certification body conducts one audit to satisfy management system standards in adition to ISO/TS 16949:2002, the IATF Rules for Achieving IATF Recognition for ISO/TS 16949:2002 shall be observed.



Updated: Wednesday, Febuary 25, 2004




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