The ever-rising competition in the automotive industry compels you to make the best choice for sustaining the market position. Every customer needs assurance about the quality. They demand consistent grade maintenance in production and higher quality components with reduced wastage. Automotive brands need to cope with the demands, and thus IATF 16949 has become the apt choice. 

An overview of IATF 16949 

IATF 16949 is a well-known certification offering a definitive framework specially designed to meet customer essentials. It works perfectly by developing a quality management system QMS with systematic processes, enhanced customer satisfaction, and continual improvement for automotive component production.

IATF 16949:2016 is the international quality standard suitable for the automotive industry. IATF 16949 was developed by the International Automotive Task Force. IATF 16949 is an extension of ISO 9001, but the impact of IATF 16949 goes beyond the elementary steps of standardization and quality maintenance. Simply put, it delivers a tailor-made approach to meeting customer-specific requirements for all the automakers in the industry. 

The focusing aspects of IATF 16949

IATF 16949 certification yields more than one advantage for automotive suppliers. They have to focus, implement and make the necessary investments to ensure the best automotive QMS. The benefits of IATF 16949 certification for the automotive industry include the following –

1. Credibility
2. Global reach
3. Customer satisfaction
4. Process integration
5. Employee engagement and empowerment
6. Evidence-based decision making
7. Continual improvement culture, etc.

Benefits that make it the apt choice

The focusing areas of IATF 16949 could also be passed as the prime benefits of the certification. IATF 16949 delivers more than one benefit for an organization. 16949 quality management system impact significantly in the core operations, sales, and customer satisfaction aspects of the industry. Read on and get an overview of the benefits that make a difference. 

1. Brand credibility – The prime benefit

IATF 16949 is a well-recognized standard, and in recent times, it has become the benchmark for developing a competent Quality Management System or QMS. It is a significant part of the automotive industry around the globe. When a customer reviews a supplier, the certification becomes a critical determinator. A QMS based on IATF 16949 helps you sustain the high competition in the automotive industry. It is a substantial benefit for companies and it compels most of the brands to get registered with IATF 16949. 

2. Global accreditation – A strong market position

Most automotive manufacturers and suppliers across the globe need to focus on implementing IATF 16949, facilitating the process of pursuing business. IATF 16949 is a global standard certification, and the automotive quality standard determines the variation in your customer base and client companies worldwide. A streamlined operation and QMS with processes under systematic control yield financial rewards in return for the investment in implementing QMS. Usually, the QMS-certified companies reflect better numbers in terms of monetary performance compared to the uncertified brands. 

3. Enhanced customer satisfaction – A boost for the sales

Many organizations implement the best practices for QMS and IATF 16949 framework to assure customers about the enhanced Quality Management System or QMS in the automotive manufacturing company. An organization with an effective and well-operational QMS suffice customer expectations compared to an organization with no definitive framework for QMS. One can focus on the objectives and goals of the operation with the best steps. Customers must also feel involved, and thus, customer feedback plays a vital role. It gets analyzed for incorporating the best steps. 

4. Better decisions for production and operations

Another critical benefit of the enhanced QMS or quality management principle of IATF 16949 is facilitating the process of evidence-based decision-making. Businesses can drive their decisions better with a regulatory QMS framework, based on factual data. It helps organizations focus on utilizing and employing resources in substantial areas with the potential to ensure maximized improvement, streamlined processing, and production effectiveness. Additionally, the organization can also take one step forward and monitor the process improvement via actual data-based references. 

5. Improvement and consistent development

Continual improvement is another vital quality management principle of IATF 16949. Automotive companies can focus on improving processes, productional efficiencies, and cost savings. In the long run, it ensures continual improvement, for the companies, and the return is always on the higher side. A professional culture of continual improvement yields benefits for the upcoming years. With the specialized and systematic process approach, IATF 16949 certification offers the finest benefits uniting well-defined processes with higher efficiencies. 

6. Enhanced employee engagement – A streamlined process

If the employees at an organization get extensively involved in the improvements of the QMS and processes, they engage themselves more. It facilitates the areas of improvement with the optimal utilization of resources. Employees with a streamlined mindset are more productive. They assist the companies, to improve and how! Thus, the organization ensures steady success via a strong employee and customer base.  

7. Reduce wastage with better management.

The international standard, IATF 16949, is based on ISO 9001:2008, with a specialized approach to the industry. It promotes a processed and systematic approach. One can utilize the process approach, and augment the understanding of the inter-relationship. It facilitates the QMS process and avoids problems in the supply chain as well. If your organization gets certified to ISO 9001, implementing IATF 16949 is a piece of cake.  

Follow the best steps for automotive QMS.

Most automotive manufacturers need the IATF 16949 certification because it is globally recognized. It helps the brands become credible names on a global scale. IATF 16949 framework implementation develops a work atmosphere and enhanced operational process, open to feedback, idea collaboration, improved employee involvement, etc. The global standard brings critical information to organizations that help them understand the vital parts of the implementation. But, it does not explain the implementation process. 

As an organization, it depends on your approach. You have to define your QMS to meet the specific productional needs. Connect to IRQS for a systematic and flawless audit service. Get end-to-end and streamlined audits to avoid the complexities. Make the best choice for industrial accreditation by selecting the correct steps.