Details on ISO/TS 16949:2009

ISO/TS 16949:2009 gets redefined often as the standard evolves over time. Though the technical specification does not change, the definition, interpretation, and audit requirements have changed and/or evolved over time through Sanctioned Interpretations and FAQs. Most of the time the changes are focused on improvements based on required industry change.

Re certification Training

The competency matrix in turn has impacted the ISO/TS 16949:2009 Third Party Re certification Training. The Re certification training based on the competency matrix will have an impact in many areas, including:

• Process Approach
• Top Management Expectations,
• Customer Specifics
• nonconformity Writing
• Closeouts

The impact of the changes will affect both TS-registered and non registered organizations over time, as the organizations' ISO/TS 16949:2009 lead auditors get re certified. The first batch of auditors took the exam last November, and the last batch will take it within three years.

The Competency Matrix and Re certification Training impact is extensive. Here are some of the key changes:

• Process Approach -
1. Further emphasis on prioritizing the audit plan based on the risks to the customer
2. Focus on identifying a process-based Audit Plan versus a clause-based Audit Plan
3. Understanding a clause-based or function-based Process Map versus a process based Process Map
4. Identifying the processes for the Site and support functions on the process map
• Top Management Expectations - new interview requirements for top management were more clearly defined
• Customer Specifics - Prioritizing OEM customer specifics and auditing processes that have customer specifics already embedded in them
• Nonconformity Write Ups - Writing "system"- focused nonconformity
• Nonconformity Close Outs - Answering nonconformity with root causes, corrective and system corrective actions. Internal Audit nonconformity are treated similarly to customer 8-Ds or 7-Ds.

As organizations get audited this year, they can expect more major nonconformity for missing the "process approach" in process design and in auditing. Also, major nonconformity can be expected for write-ups and close outs of nonconformity.