IATF

IATF stands for International Automotive Task Force, a global collaboration of automotive manufacturers and trade associations formed to harmonize and improve quality management systems across the automotive supply chain. The IATF develops and maintains standards that align with industry needs and promote consistent quality practices among suppliers worldwide.

The core standard associated with IATF is IATF 16949, a quality management system standard for the automotive sector. IATF 16949 is harmonized with ISO 9001 and adds automotive-specific requirements covering product design and development, production, installation, and service of automotive-related products and processes. The standard aims to reduce redundancy in audits, improve supplier quality, and facilitate global supply chain coordination.

Certification under IATF 16949 is achieved through IATF-recognized Certification Bodies. The process typically includes a preparatory gap assessment, followed by on-site Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits, and ongoing surveillance audits to maintain certification. Certificates are issued for a multi-year period, with periodic reassessment to ensure continued conformance. In practice, adoption of the standard is widespread among automotive OEMs and suppliers, and it is often a prerequisite for doing business in the automotive industry.

Governance and reach: the IATF operates with a Global Governing Council representing OEMs and large suppliers. The IATF is supported by regional secretariats, commonly in North America (AIAG) and Europe (CLEPA), and maintains a network of IATF-recognized Certification Bodies worldwide. The standard and its audits are coordinated to ensure consistent quality requirements across regions.