In August 2016, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Automotive Task Force (IATF) agreed to discontinue the joint development of ISO/TS 16949, the well-known technical specification for automotive sector quality management systems. IATF will now release the first edition of the new IATF 16949.

Coupled with applicable customer-specific requirements, this new International Standard will outline the quality management system requirements for organizations working in automotive production, service and/or accessory parts of the automotive industry.

As highlighted by IATF, the goal of this new international standard is the development of a quality management system that:

-Provides for continual improvement

-Emphasizes defect prevention

-Includes specific requirements and tools from automotive industry

-Promotes reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain

The main implications of this new direction are:

-ISO/TS 16949:2009 certificates will no longer be valid after September 14, 2018

-After October 1, 2017 no audits (initial, surveillance, re-certification or transfer) shall be conducted to ISO/TS 16949:2009

-Organizations certified to ISO/TS 16949:2009 shall transition to the new IATF 16949, through a transition audit in line with the current audit cycle for ISO/TS 16949:2009

IATF 16949 is expected to be released in October 2016 and will be aligned with the framework, structure and requirements of the ISO 9001 revised in 2015.