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ISO/TS 16949:2002 is crucial to automotive suppliers

First-tier automotive suppliers are making the transition from QS-9000 to ISO/TS 16949:2002. This new registration is scheduled for release as a way of streamlining the registration and audit process. It does not replace QS-9000, but it is recognized as a harmonizing agent for companies faced with upgrading to ISO 9001:2000 by the December 15, 2003 deadline.

Both QS-9000 and ISO/TS 16949:1999 require a robust process for measuring customer satisfaction. Included are the analysis of trends and the comparison of benchmark data. ISO/TS 16949:2002 also requires the constant surveying of customer perception as to whether contractual requirements have been exactly met, a continuous evaluation and analysis of technical, manufacturing and testing data, and evidence of compliance with customer requirements and efficiency of process.

QS-9000 does not address employee motivation, empowerment, and satisfaction, while TS 16949:1999 requires a process for the measurement of employee satisfaction. Furthermore, the standard requires that registered companies have a process for measuring satisfaction to achieve quality objectives and make continual improvements. All personnel are required to be aware of the relevance of their activities. Efforts must be made to promote quality awareness at all levels within the company and with suppliers.

The concept of "process", basic to ISO 9001:2000, is also a key point in ISO/TS 16949:2002. The elements of any process are sometimes referred to as SIPOC -- Suppliers and Inputs, a value-adding Process, Outputs and Customers. This input-output ideology is dually focused on the internal workings of an organization, as well as the customer's satisfaction.

All first-tier suppliers are selected (in part) for having laboratories that comply with the ISO/IEC 17025-2000 "General requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories".

Topics to Consider

• Is your company going to comfortably meet the deadlines for upgrading from the obsolete ISO 9000-1994 and ISO Guide 25 standards?
• Is your organization using reference standards that comply with the ISO/IEC Guide 34-1999 "General Requirements for the Competence of Reference Material Producers" standard?