Preparing for TS 16949

BSI Management Systems believes the challenges for implementing the new international quality standard that supersedes QS-9000 can be turned into benefits for automotive suppliers.

For the OEMs and their suppliers, beefing up quality has meant earning any number of quality certificates over the last 30 years. Since the early 1990s alone, many in the automotive industry have earned registration to the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9000 international quality management system standard. No sooner was the certificate on the wall than the Big 3 released their own version of ISO 9000-QS-9000-in 1994. Many of those same companies now face the phase-out of QS-9000 and must earn registration to the international version-Technical Specification (TS) 16949. DaimlerChrysler is requiring registration to the 2002 edition of TS 16949 by July 1, 2004, and General Motors and Ford by December 14, 2006.

Rolled out officially just about a year ago as ISO/TS 16949:2002, the new international standard is fully aligned with ISO 9000:2000. Besides the emphasis on continuous improvement that is the hallmark of ISO 9000:2000/QS-9000, the new standard emphasizes defect prevention and reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. It also spells out automotive sector-specific requirements for its suppliers in employee competence; awareness and training; design and development; production and service provision; control of monitoring and measuring devices; and measurement, analysis, and improvement.