The aim of IATF 16949 is the development of a quality management system that provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. IATF 16949 applies to the design/development, production and, when relevant, installation and servicing of automotive-related products. It is based on ISO9000.

The requirements are intended to be applied throughout the supply chain. For the first time vehicle assembly plants will be encouraged to seek IATF 16949 certification.

This Technical Specification, in conjunction 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.

This Technical Specification is applicable 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 centres, corporate headquarters and distribution centres), form part of the site audit as they support the site, but cannot obtain stand-alone certification to this Technical Specification.

This Technical Specification can be applied throughout the automotive supply chain.