IATF 16949: Quality Certification for the Automotive Industry
The reference standard for Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive component manufacturers. IgeraIndustria makes AIAG core tools, PPAP requirements, APQP, FMEA, MSA and SPC instantly queryable with exact requirement citations.
70,000+
Companies certified IATF 16949 worldwide. Mandatory requirement from Volkswagen, BMW, Stellantis, Ford and Toyota.
5
Mandatory AIAG core tools: APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA and SPC. The foundation of every automotive quality system.
18
PPAP elements the OEM customer may require to approve a new or modified production part.
Frequently asked questions — IATF 16949
What is the difference between ISO 9001 and IATF 16949?
IATF 16949 incorporates all ISO 9001:2015 requirements and adds automotive-specific requirements. The most relevant are: Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Measurement System Analysis (MSA), Statistical Process Control (SPC), and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). The standard also requires automotive-specific process and product audits. IATF 16949 certification cannot be achieved without ISO 9001 as a foundation.
What are the AIAG core tools and why are they mandatory?
The AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) core tools are five quality methodologies referenced as requirements by IATF 16949: APQP (advanced quality planning), PPAP (production part approval), FMEA (failure mode analysis), MSA (measurement system analysis) and SPC (statistical process control). They are mandatory because OEMs (Tier 0) require them from Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers as a condition for part approval and maintaining approved supplier status.
What is PPAP and when must it be submitted?
PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) is the part approval process that the supplier must present to the customer (OEM or Tier 1) before starting series production. It consists of up to 18 elements depending on the required submission level (1 to 5). The most common are: design records and engineering drawings, design and process FMEA, control plan, process capability studies (Cpk), MSA results, appearance approval report, and production sample. PPAP must be submitted for any new part, design change, or process change.
How often is IATF 16949 audited?
IATF 16949 certification is valid for 3 years with mandatory annual surveillance audits. Unlike ISO 9001, IATF 16949 also requires internally planned process audits and product audits. Certification bodies accredited by IATF (AIAG, VDA QMC, etc.) conduct the initial two-stage audit and annual surveillance audits. Non-compliance with core tool requirements is grounds for a major non-conformance.