What is the difference between ISO 9001 and IATF 16949

Whether it’s about the things that we use or the food we consume every day, quality is the prominent consideration. Even the success of the organization depends on the quality of products/services they deliver to their customers.

Quality covers a broader spectrum, including safety, efficiency, and reliability, while many organizations define quality as exceeding customer expectations. This is the reason; there are some standard guidelines published for different industries to manage product quality and keeping the deviations to a minimum.

You already know that understanding different standard guidelines can be a confusing and costly chore. Fortunately, the core differences of ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 are highlighted in this post to give you the most accurate idea about both and their implementation. Let’s begin with a quick introduction of ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.

ISO 9001 vs IATF 16949

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is a set of international standards that defines requirements for an effective quality management system (QMS). ISO 9001 certified organizations are the ones that demonstrate their ability to deliver high-quality products and services consistently while meeting customer and applicable regulatory requirements.

What is IATF 16949?

IATF 16949, specified by The International Automotive Task Force (IATF), defines the QMS standards specifically for the Automotive industry. An organization needs to achieve this certification through a 3rd party auditor. Though IATF 16949 used the structure of ISO 9001, the automotive companies need to comply with both the manuals, i.e., IATF 16949 and ISO 9001, for achieving certification.

Difference between ISO 9001 and IATF 16949

Though both the standards share the same structure, there are specific differences that you should know for the successful implementation of best practices in your organization.

1. The ISO 9001 defines the fundamental requirements of a quality management system for every organization, while IATF 16949 talks about the requirements of QMS for automotive organizations.
2. The ISO 9001 can be implemented alone as a stand-alone document, while IATF 16949 must be implemented as an extension and in combination with ISO 9001:2015.
3. The ISO 9001 applies to all the sites of the organization. At the same time, IATF 16949 is applicable for the organization sites that produce service parts or parts for car assembly, not the aftermarket parts.
4. The ISO 9001 focuses on customer satisfaction, while the IATF 16949 focuses on customer-specific requirements.
5. ISO 9001 does not require calibration for all measurement systems. You can calibrate only the systems that significantly contribute to the quality of the product. At the same time, IATF 16949 requires calibration/verification activities and records along with the details on conformity to specification after the calibration/verification activity.
6. The accreditation bodies for ISO 9001 include ANAB, Auditors, Certification Bodies, etc. while the accreditation bodies for IATF 16949 include IATF, IAOB, Auditors, etc.

Different Guidelines: One Common Goal for ISO 9001 and IATF 16949

Though guidelines specified in both the standards may vary, they share a common goal to achieve, i.e., Quality – for products, services, and processes. Achieving quality ensures Longevity, Fulfillment, Cost vs. Need, Security, Usability, and Efficiency of the product.

You must ensure quality is critical to keep your customers satisfied and retain their loyalty for long-term profits. Maintaining quality processes make the organization a better place to work while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Also, quality helps businesses to achieve:

1. Productivity
2. Sustainability
3. Profitability
4. Business Success
5. Customer Satisfaction

Achieving Quality for ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 Requires an Effective Quality Management System

When you have a well-documented and implemented Quality Management System in your organization, you can leverage multiple benefits like;

1. Streamlined and controlled processes
2. Reduced wastage and downtime
3. Lesser chances of expensive mistakes such as product recall
4. Lowered costs of quality
5. Identifying and fulfilling training requirements
6. Increased employee engagement
7. Continuous improvements and process alignment with quality objectives
8. Smoother communication and collaboration to eliminate inconsistencies

To achieve quality consistently, you need a quality management system that not only helps you to streamline and standardize the processes but also to measure and review the performance analytics for making necessary changes in the system.

Which quality management system to go for ISO 9001 and IATF 16949?

Qualityze Enterprise Quality Management Software will make a perfect solution for all your quality management needs. It helps you gain a competitive edge by utilizing the best-in-class quality processes to ensure improved product quality and achieve compliance. It focuses on reducing the overall costs of quality, regardless of your industry focus.

Qualityze EQMS Suite includes Nonconformance Management, CAPA Management, Document Management, Change Management, Audit Management, Training Management, Complaints Management, Supplier Quality Management, Calibration Management, and Maintenance Management system.

Qualityze is built upon the world’s most secure and reliable platform, Salesforce.com, which enables your quality teams to manage end-to-end quality from anywhere around the globe. It also comprises features like Email Approvals, Important Reminders Notification, Digital Signature, Dashboards, and Reports.

Conclusion

Complying to quality standards, be it ISO 9001 or IATF 16949, gives your organization a competitive edge over others. You can put an effective quality management system in place to have better control of the process and maintain consistency in product quality.

Optimize Quality to Gain Customer Loyalty!