Question 1

What is IATF 16949 and is it the same as TS 16949?

Accepted Answer

IATF 16949:2016 is the current global quality management system standard for automotive production and relevant service parts organisations. It replaces the previous ISO/TS 16949 standard — 'TS 16949' is a historical reference only and is no longer valid for new certifications. IATF 16949 was published by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) and builds on ISO 9001:2015, adding automotive-sector specific requirements including the five core tools (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC) and Customer-Specific Requirements (CSRs) from individual OEMs. Organisations that previously held TS 16949 certificates have been required to upgrade to IATF 16949.

Question 2

Which Indian OEMs mandate IATF 16949 for their suppliers?

Accepted Answer

Major Indian OEMs that mandate IATF 16949 (or equivalent) for their Tier 1 and often Tier 2 suppliers include Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai Motor India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Honda Cars India, Toyota Kirloskar, and Bajaj Auto. Global OEMs with significant Indian supply chains — including Ford, GM, Volkswagen Group, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz — also require IATF 16949 from their direct suppliers. Each OEM publishes its own Customer-Specific Requirements (CSRs) which must be incorporated into the supplier's QMS in addition to the base IATF 16949 standard requirements.

Question 3

What are the five IATF 16949 core tools and why are they important?

Accepted Answer

The five core tools are: Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) — a structured product development process to prevent defects before production begins; Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) — 18-element submission package that demonstrates the production process can consistently produce parts meeting customer requirements; Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) — systematic methodology to identify and prioritise potential failure modes in designs (DFMEA) and processes (PFMEA); Measurement System Analysis (MSA) — statistical evaluation of measurement systems to ensure measurement variation is understood and acceptable; and Statistical Process Control (SPC) — use of statistical methods to monitor and control production processes. Certification bodies assess competence in all five tools during IATF 16949 audits.

Question 4

Can a Tier 2 or Tier 3 automotive supplier get IATF 16949 certified?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While IATF 16949 certification is most commonly mandated for Tier 1 suppliers (direct suppliers to OEMs), many Tier 1 suppliers pass down the requirement to their own key suppliers — making IATF 16949 a de-facto requirement at Tier 2 for critical components such as castings, forgings, sub-assemblies, and heat treatment services. A Tier 2 or Tier 3 supplier can voluntarily pursue IATF 16949 certification — and doing so creates a significant competitive advantage in the automotive supply chain, as it pre-qualifies the supplier for OEM and Tier 1 approved vendor lists.

Question 5

What is a Customer-Specific Requirement (CSR) in IATF 16949?

Accepted Answer

Customer-Specific Requirements (CSRs) are additional quality management requirements published by individual automotive OEMs that supplement the base IATF 16949 standard. Every major OEM publishes CSRs — for example, General Motors' GM Specific Requirements, Ford's Q1 and Customer-Specific Requirements, Volkswagen Group's VDA standards, and Maruti Suzuki's supplier quality requirements. IATF 16949 requires suppliers to identify, review, and incorporate all applicable CSRs from their customer base into their QMS. During certification audits, the certification body will review CSR conformance alongside the base standard. Suppliers must maintain awareness of CSR updates published by their OEM customers.

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