TS 16949 aligned with ISO 9001 is a fee based prescriptive specification to the automotive industry. TS 16949 fuses requirements from USA QS-9000,  Italian AVQS, French EAQF, and German VDA 6.1. In addition to ISO/TS 16949 requirements each automaker adds its own customer specific requirements that can not be harmonized due to interpretation and specific given of each OEM. Inquire in AIAG the TE (tooling and equipment) supplement to add, when applicable. To obtain year 2002 (ISO/)TS 16949 contact the AIAG. ISO and the international automotive industry has published ISO/TS 16949:2002, which specifies quality system requirements for suppliers within the automotive industry sector. ISO/TS 16949 is required by most Automotive OEMs. The inclusion of ISO 9001:2000 requirements into ISO/TS 16949:2002 is sector-specific requirements that includes a scope that relates to personnel competence, awareness and training, design and development, production and service provision, control of monitoring and measuring devices, and measurement, analysis, and improvement. And aims at the advancement of a quality management system with direct provisions for continual improvement, defect prevention, reduction of variation, and waste within the supply chain. The agreement for releasing the current version of TS 16949 involves the participation of  individual OEM members of the IATF. IATF includes DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Ford, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën, Renault, BMW and Volkswagen. The release of ISO/TS 16949:2002 is now invoked as a requirements to the respective supply bases for OEMs of the automotive sector, specifically to Tier 1 suppliers. Tier 2, Tier 3 and others are require ISO 9001, and may consider ISO 9001 certification with Reference to TS 16949 - this provides for QMS ISO 9001 certification and readiness to advance to ISO/TS 16949 if and when necessary. Note - Consideration will be given to your organization's role within the automotive supply chain (relevant to Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3).

ISO/TS 16949 fuses many automotive industry sector requirements (including QS-9000 with VDA 6.1, AVQS, EAQF) into one International Standard.

TS 16949, first edition published in November 1999, is a ISO 9001 variant applicable for the (global) automotive industry. Now the same applies under (ISO/)TS 16949:2002.

Note: TS 16949 registrars needs accreditation through a scheme under administration by the "International Oversight Bureau (IAOB)".

Implement and manage ISO/TS 16949 registration scheme activities

• Ensure global application/interpretative consistency of ISO/TS 16949 Development and maintenance of a central database of information

For a list of certification bodies and registrars visit our page of Registrars.

TS 16949 fuses the European variants of ISO 9001 VDA 6.1 (German), AVQS (Italian) and EAQF (French) and former US Automotive QS-9000 . ISO/TS 16949 format-structure is more QS (ISO 9001:1994) like than it is VDA 6.1, year 2002 of ISO/TS scheme it is compatible with Automotive Sector added requirements ISO 9001:2000. We consider ISO/TS 16949, comparatively, less specific and prescriptive (implying restrictive) than QS-9000 was, while still carrying its key requirements that includes:

• PPAP
• MSA
• SPC
• QSA / TS-QSACL
• APQP
• FMEA

Note - Also keep abreast of the AIAG Sanctions (interpretative sanctions). For specifics, equivalent to the above, for European and Asian counterpart, contact directly.

Internationally, TS 16949 document is available through the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), and in the USA through the Automotive Action Group (AIAG) (QS-9000 Publishing organisation, thus purchasing is done through the AIAG). Also, through the International Organisation for Standardisation you can purchase ISO/TS 16949:2002 or directly through AIAG web site.