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The IATF16949:2016 can be applied throughout the automotive supply chain. Certification is based on the certification specifications (Rules) issued by the IATF (International Automotive Task Force). The certificate is valid for three years and must be confirmed annually by IATF-certified auditors (3rd party auditors) from accredited certification companies. After that, the re-certification takes place for a further three years with renewed annual confirmation.

A certificate according to IATF16949:2016 is intended to establish the trust of the (potential) customer in the system and process quality of a supplier. Today, a supplier without a valid certificate has little chance of supplying series parts to a Tier 1 supplier and certainly not to an automotive manufacturer (OEM).

To achieve IATF 16949 certification, companies must meet a number of strict requirements that ensure that their quality management systems meet the specific requirements of the automotive industry. This includes the implementation of a quality management system based on ISO 9001 and the additional requirements of IATF 16949. In addition, all employees involved must be trained to implement the requirements correctly.

In March / April of this year, the internal system audit according to IATF16949:2016 took place at herpa print, before the official surveillance audit takes place next month.

All processes from incoming goods to outgoing goods were checked for compliance with standards. Conformity with customer-specific requirements, so-called Custumor Specific Requirements (CSR), was also assessed. These requirements often go beyond the requirements of IATF 16949 and are individually tailored to the needs of the respective customer. The knowledge and potential gained in this way serve continuous improvement and optimal preparation for the upcoming surveillance audit.