| that system. | | | | International Automotive Task Force (IATF). |
| | | | The IATF is an "ad hoc" group of automotive |
| ISO 18000 is an Occupational Health and | | | | manufacturers and their respective trade |
| Safety standard. It is not the same as the | | | | associations formed to provide improved |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration | | | | quality products to automotive customers |
| (OSHA) in the United States, but it is | | | | worldwide. Members include the following |
| similar. Many companies are requesting this | | | | manufacturers: BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, |
| registration as a preventative. They use it | | | | Ford Motor Company, General Motors (including |
| to find and eliminate problems before OSHA | | | | Opel Vauxhall), PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Renault |
| needs to come in. It costs time and money if | | | | SA, Volkswagen, and their respective trade |
| a Previously I discussed the basics of ISO | | | | associations - AIAG (U.S.), ANFIA (Italy), |
| certification and what it meant. Here are | | | | FIEV (France), SMMT (U.K.), and VDA |
| some additional certifications that are | | | | (Germany). |
| specific to specialty industries. | | | | |
| | | | As of December 14, 2006, TS 16949 replaced |
| AS 9100 is the Aerospace Quality Management | | | | the QS-9000 standard. QS-9000 was the |
| System. Its foundation is ISO 9000:2000, | | | | original global automotive standard promoted |
| with additional requirements specific to | | | | by the big three in the United States and |
| aerospace manufacturers. This is for | | | | overseas. There was a lot of time invested |
| companies that supply and work with the | | | | by many companies to become QS-9000 |
| aerospace industry. | | | | certified. Due to this, some companies that |
| | | | are not tier one still want to maintain their |
| ISO 13485 is the Medical Quality Management | | | | QS-9000 systems and are asking to have |
| System. Again, the foundation is ISO | | | | compliance audits so they can continue to |
| 9000:2000 with additional requirements that | | | | maintain company gets into trouble with OSHA. |
| are specific to medical device manufacturers. | | | | Preventive measures help reduce that |
| Organizations currently manufacturing | | | | exposure to fines and penalties. |
| private label medical devices must have ISO | | | | |
| 13485 registration if they sell their product | | | | There are many other standards as well, such |
| in the European Union. Organizations that | | | | as for telecommunications and food. Many of |
| manufacture in vitro diagnostic medical | | | | those are founded upon the ISO 9001 standard. |
| devices, and want to be prepared for future | | | | |
| regulatory requirements, would want to be | | | | No matter what size your company is, the |
| registered to this standard also. | | | | systems are very similar. It just depends on |
| | | | whether your company is in the service |
| TS 16949 is the Automotive standard that is | | | | industry or a manufacturer. Earning one of |
| being promoted by Europe and the United | | | | these certifications can improve your |
| States. It is a must for certain automotive | | | | company's product or service, reputation, and |
| tier one companies. It's an in-depth, | | | | bottom line. Now, all you need to do is get |
| complicated, and expensive standard to | | | | out there and get started! |
| attain. TS 16949 is regulated by the | | | | |