IATF 16949: The Quality Standard for Professionals in the Automotive Industry
No quality initiative is complete without IATF 16949 certification in the automotive industry! In a sector where every manufacturer (BMW, Ford, Stellantis, Renault, Volkswagen, etc.) imposes its own specific requirements on its entire supply chain, this global standard is the essential passport for any supplier that wants to stay in the game. For companies in the industry, both large and small, AFNOR offers the current version of IATF 16949, combining it with AIAG core tools and lean management solutions to assess the efficiency and profitability of your organization.
Your needs
Do you work in the automotive industry in a role that involves quality issues, lean management, and quality culture? We provide you with access to market intelligence solutions, training, and audit-based recognition.
Certify your IATF 16949 process
Reassure your customers and clients with automotive-specific quality certification.
Assessing Your Company's Quality Culture
Implement our Quality Culture Barometer
Understanding the IATF 16949 Standard
Become an expert in this automotive quality standard with AFNOR Compétences.
Become a lean management expert
AFNOR Certification offers the AFAQ Focus Lean assessment.
AFNOR helps you define your needs
Why implement a quality management system?
In the automotive industry, where global competition is fierce, quality is of paramount importance. Sacrificing quality leads to higher costs, thereby undermining profitability and reputation. Quality in the automotive sector even has its own standard: IATF 16949, covering the design, development, production, installation, and maintenance of automotive parts. It is very often a prerequisite in calls for bids.
Source of figures: Study on the Costs of Non-Quality, AFNOR, 2023
67 %Industrial companies measure the costs of non-quality.
90 %ISO 9001 and 14001 certified companies measure the costs of waste
40 %companies define an action plan against poor quality
80 %Some companies estimate that non-quality costs account for up to 5% of revenue
What IATF 16949 certification actually changes
Obtaining IATF 16949 certification means, first and foremost, being officially recognized by global automotive manufacturers and suppliers—a prerequisite for participating in their tenders. But the process also has a positive internal impact:
- Reduction of non-quality costs,
- Improving process efficiency
- Adoption of the AIAG core tools (APQP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, PPAP) as tools for day-to-day management.
Another unique benefit of IATF 16949: AFNOR Certification offers a combined audit that allows companies to obtain both IATF and ISO 9001 certifications simultaneously—a significant cost and effort savings for businesses. Professionals in the automotive electronics sector will also find synergies with functional safety, particularly through the ISO 26262 standard for automotive electronic systems.
How does the IATF 16949 certification process work with AFNOR?
A partner to the automotive industry for over 20 years and recognized by the IATF to issue certification in more than 100 countries, AFNOR Certification supports companies through a five-step process:
- an optional assessment visit (pre-certification evaluation to maximize your chances of certification),
- an initial audit (analysis of your practices and data against the requirements of the IATF standard and customer-specific requirements),
- a report accompanied by a detailed audit report,
- the issuance of the IATF 16949 certificate and your logo for three years,
- monitoring and renewal — an annual follow-up audit and a renewal audit every three years.
Every AFNOR auditor is certified by the IATF for their technical expertise and industry experience. Audit reports are accessible through a personalized client portal. Regarding changes to quality standards, our article on the integration of climate change into ISO 9001 illustrates how management standards are adapting to contemporary challenges.
IATF 16949: What Changes in the 6th Edition of the Standard Starting in 2025
As of January 1, 2025, compliance with the 6th edition of the IATF rules is mandatory for all certified companies. Please note: this is not a revision of the IATF 16949:2016 standard itself—the quality requirements remain unchanged. It is the rules governing the certification process and audits that have been significantly revised.
The key changes to note:
- The number of surveillance audits is capped at two per three-year cycle (down from a semi-annual frequency nine months ago), with annual contracts now required;
- Each visit requires a minimum of 1.5 days on-site, with at least 30% of the audit time dedicated to the manufacturing process;
- The preliminary assessments and gap decryptions by certification bodies have been eliminated;
- The definition of an extended manufacturing site (EMS) has been clarified—it must now be located within 16 km and 60 minutes of the main site.
The 32 approved interpretations (SI) from the 5th edition have been incorporated and consolidated into this new text. A comprehensive revision of the IATF 16949 standard is also expected around 2027, following on from the previous revision ISO 9001:2026 .
