What process does this communique "start" for suppliers to automotive companies? Does this communication give the go-ahead for suppliers to implement this standard or was it to show unity among the automotive companies? There isn't any indication when the rest of the standard will be published. It is clear that any registrar that tries to register a company to ISO16949 is on shaky footing. So I guess any supplier that desires registration to this standard will have to wait. Howard - is your company doing anything with ISO16949? I guess you could implement it and then wait for the registration process to "catch up"!

I spoke to my registrar today and sent him a copy of this communique. I asked as to his view.
As this is not approved yet and as the communique says they must adapt to ISO 9000-2000 they can certify that we work according to the draft standard but without certification.
I have not read the draft with the upmost care but I do not think that adaption from QS to this should be a real problem. We are being asked to register to VDA and this should solve the problems.
I know of companies that are registered to QS, VDA and EAQF (the french standard).
The main advantage of the standard being ISO is that the accreditation and registration is standardised and not as per each individual organisation.
Implementation to ISO16949 could be seen as continuous improvement!!

Roger:
I have been operating under 16949 since January 1, 1999. Have had a "practice" certification audit to it and did my second surveillance audit to it today {2 minors, yea}. As soon as my registrar gets the go ahead to begin registrations we will do our offical registration audit

------------------

Congratulations! Makes super sense to me!