Automotive Quality Systems Handbook, 2nd Edition

ISO/TS 16949 contains a series of requirements which if met will provide the manage-

ment system with the capability of supplying products and services that satisfy the orga-

nization’s customers. All organizations have a management system – a way of working but

in some it is not formalized, in others it is partially formalized but not effective and in a

few organizations the management system really enables its objectives to be achieved

year after year. In such organizations, a management system has been established

rather than evolved and if an organization desires year-after-year success, it needs a

formal mechanism to accomplish this – it won’t happen by chance or even by the brute

force and determination of one man or woman – it requires an effective management

system. This requires management to think of their organization as a system, as a set

of interconnected processes that include tasks, resources and behaviors as explained

in Chapter 1.

How is this implemented?

The terms ‘establish’, ‘document’, ‘implement’, ‘maintain’ and ‘improve’ are used in the

standard as though this is a sequence of activities when in reality, in order to establish

a system it has to be put in place and putting a system in place requires a number of

interrelated activities that can be grouped into four stages of a System Development

Project as outlined below and addressed in more detail in Chapter 1. These are con-

sistent with the requirements of Clause 4.1 of ISO/TS 16949 and Clause 2.3 of ISO

9000 that address the Systems Approach.

Establish the goals

1 Clarify the organization’s purpose, mission and vision (goals): this is what the

organization has been formed to do and the direction in which it is proceeding in

the short and long term. It is the ‘Organization Purpose’ that is referred to in

Clause 5.3a) of the standard.

2 Confirm the values and principles that will guide the organization towards its goals:

these are addressed by Clause 5.3 of the standard and in Chapter 5 under the

heading Quality policy.

3 Identify stakeholder needs relative to the purpose, mission and vision: this is

addressed by Clause 5.2 of the standard and in Chapter 5 under the heading

Customer focus.

4 Identify stakeholder satisfaction indicators relative to these needs: these are

addressed by Clause 5.4.1 of the standard and in Chapter 5 under the heading

Quality objectives.

Develop the processes

5 Identify the processes that will achieve these objectives: this is addressed further on

in this chapter under the heading Identifying processes.

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