IATF, the International Automotive Task Force, and ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, focus on quality management systems in IATF 16949 and ISO 9001. The previous versions of these standards were released in 2009 and 2008, respectively.
In combination, the latest standards are intended for use by automotive organizations seeking to manage quality management system responsibilities in an internationally agreed-upon manner that contributes to overall industry goals relative to ensuring high standards for quality and product safety.
“Bendix wants every one of our stakeholders, from customers to suppliers, to feel confident that we are implementing the requirements of these critical quality management standards properly. Third-party certification is key to helping build that confidence,” says Carlos Hungria, Bendix chief operating officer.
To facilitate the transition, teams at each Bendix location prepared for more than a year to further strengthen existing quality management systems to address the latest revisions to the IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 standards.
In one area of concentration, as defined in the update, the team enhanced risk management within the company’s strategic planning and governance processes. Teams also increased focus on product safety in alignment with the company’s quality goals, product development and commercialization efforts and global change management processes. In addition, teams emphasized proactive initiatives aimed at meeting business and quality objectives — key performance indicators — in alignment with industry and organizational strategic goals.
Bendix manufacturing locations completing the transition to IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 were four facilities at the Acuña, Mexico, campus; Bowling Green, Ky.; three plants at the Huntington, Ind., operation; and North Aurora, Ill. Support site locations were the Elyria, Ohio, headquarters and the engineering operations at Irvine, Calif.; Kalamazoo, Mich.; and Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Intertek Group plc conducted the external audits.
Bendix also recently completed transition audits across the company for ISO 14001:2015, which focuses on standards for environmental management systems.
