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  Regulations  >  IATF 16949 Certification & IATF 16949 Audit Checklist

IATF 16949 Certification & IATF 16949 Audit Checklist

iatf 16949 audit checklist

IATF 16949 Certification and IATF 16949 Audit Checklist for the automotive industry

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iatf 16949 audit checklist

Introduction to IATF 16949 Certification

IATF 16949:2016, which replaced ISO/TS 16949:2009, is an independent standard for Quality Management System (QMS) applicable to the automotive sector. Aligned with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, it focuses on continual improvements, particularly defect prevention, waste reduction, and variation prevention in the supply chain.

To get certified, organizations must implement a QMS aligned to IATF 16949 standards which must be audited and approved by a recognized certification body.

There are two types of IATF certifications:

  • Certification of the company’s QMS against IATF 16949 requirements
  • Certification of individuals to audit against the IATF 16949 requirements

Benefits of IATF 16949 Certification

Being IATF 16949 compliant is not a regulatory requirement but can also benefit the businesses by improving processes and efficiency that drives cost savings. Besides ensuring customer satisfaction and improvement, some of the other advantages of getting IATF 16949 certification include:

  • Reduced operating costs
  • Improved stakeholder relationships
  • Proven business credentials
  • Ability to win more business
  • Global recognition as a reputable supplier to the automotive industry
  • Consistent quality approach
  • Fully integrated processes
iatf 16949 certification benefits

What are the Steps Must a Company Take before Applying for IATF 16949 Certification?

Once all the documentation and implementation process is complete, companies must focus on these three steps before applying for IATF 16949 certification.

iatf 16949 - internal audit

A thorough internal audit of the QMS processes. This internal audit’s objective is to ensure all the records are compliant and spot any issues and weaknesses that are otherwise hidden.

iatf 16949 - management review

A formal management review evaluates the relevant information about the management system processes makes necessary decisions and assigns resources.

iatf 16949 - corrective action

Carry out corrective actions on the root cause of any problems discovered during internal audit and management review.


Upon completion of these three steps, the company can move to the certification process, which is divided into two stages:

  • Stage One: This is the documentation review stage where the auditors from the chosen certification body will check to ensure the documentation meets the IATF 16949 requirements.
  • Stage Two: Once the documentation review is complete, the certification body auditors conduct the main audit to ensure that the actual activities are compliant with both IATF 16949 and their documentation by reviewing documents, records, and company practices.

How Many Clauses are there in IATF 16949 Standard?

The IATF 16949 standard comprises a total of 10 clauses. These clauses establish the requirements for a quality management system specifically tailored for the automotive industry. The structure of the standard aligns with ISO 9001:2015, facilitating integration with other management systems. Below is a summary of each clause:

  • Scope: Defines the applicability of the standard and its intended outcomes.
  • Normative References: Lists documents that are essential for the application of the standard.
  • Terms and Definitions: Provides specific terminology used within the standard to ensure clarity and consistency.
  • Context of the Organization: Addresses understanding the organization and its context, including stakeholders and their needs.
  • Leadership: Outlines the responsibilities of top management in establishing, implementing, and maintaining the quality management system.
  • Planning: Focuses on risk management and opportunities, as well as quality objectives and planning to achieve them.
  • Support: Covers resources, competence, awareness, communication, and documented information necessary for effective implementation.
  • Operation: Details operational planning and control processes required to deliver products and services that meet customer requirements.
  • Performance Evaluation: ODiscusses monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation of the quality management system's performance.
  • Improvement: Emphasizes continual improvement efforts to enhance overall performance.

Among these, Clauses 4 to 10 contain the key requirements for implementing and maintaining a Quality Management System (QMS) specific to the automotive industry, while Clauses 1 to 3 are introductory. IATF 16949 includes specific automotive sector requirements in addition to ISO 9001’s foundational QMS principles.

iatf 16949 clauses
iatf 16949 certification implimentation

When to Implement IATF 16949 Certification?

Implementing IATF 16949 certification is crucial for automotive suppliers to meet customer requirements, improve quality, and access new markets. It demonstrates a commitment to stringent quality standards and enhances customer satisfaction.

Key considerations for implementing IATF 16949:

  • Customer requirements: A primary driver for adopting IATF 16949 is when automotive clients make it a prerequisite for collaboration or continued business relationships.
  • Market expansion: Achieving this certification can help unlock new opportunities by showcasing your organization's adherence to high-quality standards and regulatory compliance, making you a more competitive supplier.
  • Quality enhancement: Even if not explicitly required, implementing IATF 16949 can help your organization address quality concerns and streamline processes, resulting in significant improvements in operational efficiency and product reliability.
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What are the Practical Steps to Achieve IATF 16949 Certification?

Achieving IATF 16949 certification involves a structured approach to implement and demonstrate compliance with the standard's requirements. Below are the practical steps to guide your organization:

  • Learn the standard: Understand the principles and requirements of the IATF 16949 standard.

  • Conduct a gap analysis: Compare your current processes with the standard to identify areas needing improvement.

  • Develop an implementation plan: Prioritize improvements and outline a detailed action plan to address gaps.

  • Train your organization: Provide training to employees on the standard and their roles in compliance.

  • Document your quality management system: Create and maintain all required procedures, manuals, and other documents.

  • Implement your quality management system: Apply the documented processes across your organization.

  • Audit your quality management system: Perform internal audits to assess effectiveness and compliance.

  • Undergo a registration audit: Complete the external audit process to achieve IATF 16949 certification.

  • Learn the standard: Understand the principles and requirements of the IATF 16949 standard.

  • Conduct a gap analysis: Compare your current processes with the standard to identify areas needing improvement.

  • Develop an implementation plan: Prioritize improvements and outline a detailed action plan to address gaps.

  • Train your organization: Provide training to employees on the standard and their roles in compliance.

  • Document your quality management system: Create and maintain all required procedures, manuals, and other documents.

  • Implement your quality management system: Apply the documented processes across your organization.

  • Audit your quality management system: Perform internal audits to assess effectiveness and compliance.

  • Undergo a registration audit: Complete the external audit process to achieve IATF 16949 certification.

What is an IATF 16949 Audit Checklist?

An IATF 16949 Audit Checklist is a structured tool designed to assess whether a company's Quality Management System (QMS) aligns with the requirements of the IATF 16949:2016 standard. As IATF 16949 applies to automotive suppliers, the primary objective of the IATF 16949 audit checklist is to ensure that the QMS promotes defect prevention, continuous quality improvement, and waste reduction in the supply chain. The IATF 16949 audit checklist will usually contain four columns:


Reference to clause number in the IATF 16949 standard

Focus areas such as question asked, interviewee name and designation, processes observed, etc

Compliance with the clause or standard

Audit findings


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Importance of IATF 16949 Audit Checklist

An organization looking to get IATF 16949 certified must conduct an internal audit before approaching a certification body. As part of the process, the internal auditor must make a note of all the observations and remarks in a detailed document that will be later reviewed by the external auditor. To help with the process, creating a conclusive audit checklist is important and must include all the relevant questions and sections as per the requirements of the IATF 16949 standard. There are several benefits to an IATF 16949 audit checklist. Some of them are:

  • Helps the auditor record the findings accurately.
  • IATF 16949 Audit Checklist acts as a reference document while creating the audit report
  • Becomes a record of policies and processes that shall be reviewed during the main audit
iatf 16949 audit checklist importance

What is the Audit Process for IATF 16949?

The audit process for IATF 16949 is a comprehensive and structured evaluation designed to ensure the highest level of quality and performance in the automotive industry. IATF 16949 audits are rigorous and require a deep understanding of automotive industry requirements. These audits aim to drive continuous improvement, enhance product quality, and ensure safety within the automotive supply chain. There are 11 stages to IATF 16949 audits:


  • Audit Planning: The process starts with planning, which involves defining the scope of the audit, identifying audit objectives, and selecting qualified auditors.
  • Document Review: Auditors examine documentation related to the quality management system, including quality manuals, procedures, and records, to ensure compliance with IATF 16949 requirements.
  • Pre-audit Meeting: A meeting is held with the organization's management to discuss the audit plan, schedule, and objectives.
  • On-site Audit: Auditors conduct the main audit at the organization's premises. This includes interviewing employees, observing processes, and assessing compliance with IATF 16949 requirements.
  • Non-conformance Identification: If any non-conformities or deviations from the standard are found, auditors document them. Non-conformities can be major (serious violations) or minor (less significant).
  • Audit Report: Auditors compile a detailed audit report summarizing their findings, including any non-conformities, observations, and areas for improvement.
  • Corrective Action: The organization must develop corrective action plans to address non-conformities. Auditors may review these plans.
  • Audit Closure: The audit is formally closed once corrective actions are verified and deemed effective.
  • Certification Decision: The certification body reviews the audit findings and corrective actions and decides on certification.
  • Surveillance Audits: After initial certification, organizations undergo periodic audits to ensure compliance with IATF 16949.
  • Recertification Audits: Full recertification audits are conducted periodically (typically every three years) to renew the organization's IATF 16949 certification.

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Compliance Quest patiently worked through implementation with us as we constructed our QMS. They were able to offer insight due to an in-depth understanding of quality control. CQ offers all the functionality we need to easily manage and scale our QMS, I highly recommend it.

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Director of IT and Service Delivery, Numed Inc

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Training for IATF 16949 Certification With CQ

CQ Training Management helps businesses train for IATF 16949 by streamlining the training process and ensuring knowledge and retention. Integrated training into EQMS creates a stable, reliable, and repeatable training management process, thus ensuring that the entire organization has the knowledge it needs, from GxP guidelines to international standards to government regulations. Some of the advantages of the CQ Training Management Module are listed below:


  • Maintain compliance and always be ‘audit ready’
  • Develop individualized and role-specific training.
  • Maintain up-to-date training records.
  • Support online learning for the virtual environment.

Role of ComplianceQuest in IATF 16949

CQ’s QHSE solution is extremely user-friendly at all levels and acts as a very powerful platform that can be scaled from a small company to a large global enterprise. The solution significantly reduces the effort involved in maintaining the IATF 16949 Quality System by automating the required processes while maintaining full traceability. CQ helps organize the company’s ISO requirements and not only improves productivity but also helps auditors find what they need quickly and effortlessly.

A sound QMS that follows the standards of IATF 16949 will:

  • Define how an organization in the automotive sector can meet the requirements of both customers and stakeholders.
  • Promote continual improvement.
  • Focus on defect prevention.
  • Emphasize documentation and implementation of corporate responsibility policies including specific industry tools such as:
    • Statistical Process Control (SPC)
    • Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
    • Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA)
    • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
    • Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

ComplianceQuest empowers automobile manufacturers by:

  • Helping them stay compliant by simplifying audits, documentation, equipment management, risk assessment, change management, etc.,

  • Offering insights into quality and safety issues through data analysis

  • Enhancing collaboration – both internal and external – by simplifying data sharing across devices and locations.

  • Enabling manufacturers to demonstrate ongoing commitment to safety and sustainability.

  • Ensure regulatory compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 9000, etc.



Improve product quality while preventing defects in the automotive industry with IATF 16949:2016 Quality Management System (QMS) certification, as well as improve processes and efficiencies while ensuring stakeholder relationships and a consistent quality approach.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • IATF 16949, aligned with ISO 9001:2015, defines the quality management system requirements for the design and development, production, and when relevant, installation and service of automotive-related products. IATF 16949 applies to sites of the organization where customer-specified parts, for production and/or service, are manufactured. Supporting functions, whether on-site or remote (such as design centers, corporate headquarters, and distribution centers), form part of the site audit as they support the site, but cannot obtain stand-alone certification to IATF 16949.

  • With IATF 16949, organizations can showcase to their existing and potential customers their commitment to quality through a robust QMS. As a result, implementing IATF 16949 gives the organization the following advantages:

    • Helps demonstrate the ability to produce products that consistently meet customer needs and other applicable statutory, regulatory, and product safety requirements

    • Focuses on customer satisfaction

    • Improves brand loyalty

    • Creates new business opportunities globally

    • Allows organizations to become more socially responsible

    • Helps identify and address risks in the organization

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