Understanding The ISO/TS 16949:2002 Standard  

2    NORMATIVE REFERENCE DOCUMENTS  

The following documents contain provisions, which through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this Standard: 

         ISO 9000:2005 – Fundamentals and vocabulary 

Use the latest edition of the document referred to above as well as documents referred to in the text.   

Key Explanation Points and Tips: 

In developing and auditing your TS 16949 based QMS you must use several reference documents. The documents that are directly or indirectly (customer specified) referred to in TS 16949 include: 

Þ       ISO 9001:2000 Standard – Quality Management System requirements (QMS) 

Þ       Customer specific requirements – Ford, GM, Daimler/Chrysler, major European automotive OEM’s, etc. (see their websites). Also see the notes under clause 1.1 scope (general) for a list of automotive OEM’s subscribing to TS 16949. 

Þ       Rules and interpretations published by the OEM’s, IAOB & IATF on their websites. 

Þ       Reference documents such as: 

Ø   APQP and Control Plan 

Ø   PPAP; FMEA; MSA; SPC;  

Ø   IATF Guidance to ISO/TS 16949:2002 

Ø   IATF Automotive Certification Scheme for ISO/TS 16949. Rules for achieving IATF certification 

Ø   ISO/IEC 17025 – Laboratory requirements 

Þ       Only the terms and definitions (section 3) of ISO 9000:2000 apply to ISO 9001:2000  

Þ       In developing your TS 16949 QMS, all of the documents listed in the scope above must be considered. The TS 16949 standard is the generic set of requirements of all subscribing automotive OEM’s. The OEM customer-specific requirements come from all these other documents.  These customer-specific documents provide - interpretations of, supplement to, or prescriptive methods for implementing TS 16949 requirements. If in doubt about the applicability of any requirement or document, always check with your customer and/or your CB.  

Þ       You must ensure that the scope of your QMS addresses all customer requirements. Customer requirements may show up in contracts, blueprints, their websites, upline OEM programs, their supplier quality manuals, associated industry standards, etc. 

Þ       Customer requirements may also come indirectly, from organizations representing the automotive industry. Keep up to date with IAOB (International Automotive Oversight Board) and IATF (International Automotive Task Force) requirements – browse through their websites or subscribe to and keep abreast of all their latest changes and interpretations. Their rules and interpretations may apply to you if you are an automotive supplier - as a Tier 1 supplier or lower down the supply chain. 

Þ       Ensure that your internal and external auditors are adequately trained on: 

Þ        all aspects of your QMS,  

Þ        your customer requirements and referenced documents 

Þ        auditing practices as defined by ISO 19011 and IATF guidance documents. 

Watch out for those reference documents – make very sure you have the latest versions and use them as applicable. If there have been any significant changes to them, make sure you update the training of personnel using these documents.