IATF 16949:2016 Transition Q & A
FAQs For Transitioning To IATF 16949®
Certification body automotive auditors had relevant questions about the IATF 16949® transition. At EAGLE Certification Group’s June 2017 Boot Camp, the IATF 16949® transition and the unique intent behind some of the new requirements were discussed. Below are those questions and responses that were covered.
*UPDATE 4/23/21: As of April 2021 Frequently Asked Questions and Sanctioned Interpretations have been updated/revised by IATF® for further clarification of the standard. Below are links to the latest FAQs and SIs.
Top 8 Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Must both ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016 be used when conducting audits?
Answer: Yes, as it states in the IATF 16949® Foreword – Automotive QMS Standard, IATF 16949® is not a stand-alone standard, it must be used in conjunction with ISO 9001:2015. - Question: Will the IATF® be granting waivers for those organizations that cannot meet the transition plan timing?
Answer: No, there are no plans to approve/grant waivers. If the organization does not complete its transition audit in a timely manner (including allowing time for Non-Conformance management and CB certification decision), then the organization will lose its certification. IATF 16949® certificates are not valid past their expiry or September 14, 2018. - Question: Is IATF 16949®, Section 4.4.1.2 related to product safety during manufacturing or final customer product safety concerns?
Answer: 4.4.1.2 was created to address final customer safety concerns (braking systems, airbags, fuel systems, etc.). If the product (or process) is a safety item on the final product, then the organization has to identify the statutory and regulatory product safety requirements that must be met, along with items a) through m) in 4.4.1.2. This is one of IATF 16949’s required documented processes, so inputs/outputs, metrics, etc. are required. - Question: Can an organization demonstrate competence only through degrees and certifications for their employees?
Answer: No, there are multiple ways for an organization to identify training needs and achieving the necessary competence for their personnel. It is up to the organization to define (and document) training needs, including awareness, and competency requirements for all personnel performing activities that impact conformity to product and process requirements. - Question: What about competency for internal auditors and second party auditors? Do they all have to take an IATF®-sanctioned lead auditor training course?
Answer: No. Organizations are responsible for ensuring key personnel, including their auditors, are properly trained and competent. The IATF® supports the use of IATF®-recognized training providers; however, it does NOT mandate the use of a lead auditor training course for all auditors in the organization. Organizations are still allowed to have key personnel trained and certified as lead auditors, and then use those key personnel to train-the-trainer to disseminate the information throughout the organization. - Question: If an organization is not design responsible for the software used in their product, does 8.3.2.3 (embedded software) apply?
Answer: Section 8.3.2.3 refers to internally developed embedded software, not “functional test” software to see if a widget works (or not) during production. For those organizations that are design responsible for the software used in their product, they must use a software development assessment methodology to assess their own software development process. Annex B contains suggested Software Process Assessments such as CMMI or SPICE. - Question: What is the goal of 8.4.2.3? Do all organizations supplying automotive product have to be IATF 16949® certified?
Answer: The ultimate objective is to have IATF 16949® certification; however, the IATF® recognizes that for various reasons, that is not feasible for all organizations. At a minimum, the expectation is for organizations to be certified to ISO 9001:2015, unless otherwise authorized by the organization’s customers. Items a) through e) are a cadence that is applicable to the entire automotive supply base. Learn about MAQMSR (Minimum Automotive Quality Management System Requirements). - Question: How are 8.3.2.3 and 8.4.2.3.1 different?
Answer: 8.3.2.3 refers to the organization itself and its internally developed embedded software. 8.4.2.3.1 refers to the organization’s suppliers of automotive product-related software. The organization needs to ensure that their suppliers of automotive product-related software implement and maintain a process for software quality assurance for their products.
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If you’re searching for an IATF 16949:2016 consultant, our team at simpleQuE is well-positioned to support your IATF 16949® and MAQMSR consulting (Minimum Automotive Quality Management System Requirements), certification, maintenance, training and internal auditing needs. Our consultants are qualified, certified, and are experts on the automotive standards, customer-specific requirements, and AIAG or VDA core tools. In addition, many are current or former 3rd party auditors who bring valuable insight because of the knowledge gained from auditing for certification bodies.
SimpleQuE also offers a full line-up of IATF 16949 training courses which includes AIAG and VDA Core Tools, Root Cause Analysis and Problem Solving, Requirements and Implementation. With IATF® also putting a major focus on internal auditor competency, it is essential to have IATF 16949® Internal Auditor Training. Our IATF 16949® auditor training utilizes the process audit approach. Contact Our IATF® consultants to learn more about the customized services offered to match your certification and training needs.
Obtaining and maintaining IATF 16949®, and meeting all of the related Customer Specific Requirements (CSRs), is difficult, which is why we’ve created free IATF 16949® tools, checklists and resources for your use.
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