Can an OEM like Honda, GM, Ford can get TS 16949 certification?

[Alex Kobzar]

Customers of the Tier I's <deleted - thanks to Mr. Paul Simpson> OEM's are those who pays them the $: the dealerships!

...I guess that the car-buyers may also be considered by Tier I 's as a sort of a group of customers of the dealerships...


I recall a fleet officer at my former job.
The man has been given the right to actually choose a model to buy (eventually: in a specified price range).
When many elderly ppl from the stuff wanted Renault Megans or Citroen's Xara (for comfortable seats );
the youngsters were backing the concept of Mazda Lantis (Protege) as an over-all better-looking, reportedly reliable and relatively confortable car:
the Man has bought the nightmare of Mitsubishi Lancers for easiness of changing of the water pump!
He himself talked freely about the rational behind the decision (the man was to change the pumps with a little help of the kibbutz's technicians every 100,000 km !: )))))
The moral of the story is:

Know Your Customer!

[Paul Simpson]

In Reply to Parent Post by Alex Kobzar

Customers of the Tier I's are those who pays them the $: the dealerships!

...I guess that the car-buyers may also be considered by Tier I 's as a sort of a group of customers of the dealerships...

The Tier 1 is the direct supply chain to the OEM (and Tier 2 are their suppliers, ....). The OEM's customers (among others) are the franchise dealerships.

In terms of application. ISO TS can apply anywhere in the supply chain. I know one Jaguar site listed supplies bodyshells and painting services to other plants (and is therefore a Tier 1).

I believe some OEMs are obtaining certification to TS to show that it is not a case of "do as I say, not as I do!"

[shamhaider]

Can the dealership be treated as customers..How about the endusers..If we take dealers as customers, then how will an oraganization react to the customer specific requirements..since delaer are sort of partners in the business..

[harry]

In Reply to Parent Post by shamhaider

Can the dealership be treated as customers..How about the endusers..If we take dealers as customers, then how will an oraganization react to the customer specific requirements..since delaer are sort of partners in the business..

You are right to question this. Dealerships are what is termed as intermediaries in marketing. They are agents. They help to serve and sell and channel all customer complaints/feedback back to the manufacturer. The end user/purchaser is still the customer.

The current trend is not to appoint exclusive agents but joint venture types so that manufacturers have better control over customer service. Apparently, dealers had not been providing adequate customer feedback. The manufacturer would like to get closer to the customer as they put it.

I am not sure if they do the same in their home country but that's what most do over here.

[potdar]

Actually TS requires one to have some customer in the automotive supply chain who demands a TS certification. The certificates also come with a list of customers as an appendix, whose requirements are being met and have been audited.

For some strange reason, some OEMs got their subassembly plants certified to TS. Still acceptable. But next they wanted the assembly lines to be certified and the CBs were too happy to oblige. The oversight body has chosen to look the other way. Now a precedent has been set. Many are quoted here. One can soon expect these to be officially reguralised by modifying the standard and / or the rules.

We could soon expect a poll on the cove regarding a rebellion against TS or whatever its called then.

Cheers.

[Sidney Vianna]

In Reply to Parent Post by potdar

But next they wanted the assembly lines to be certified and the CBs were too happy to oblige. The oversight body has chosen to look the other way. Now a precedent has been set.

Do you realize that some assembly plants actually assemble cars for another OEM? In other words, a GM assembly plant might assemble vehicles other than GM's?
Can you explain your strong objection to an assembly plant being TS certified?

[harry]

In Reply to Parent Post by Sidney Vianna

Do you realize that some assembly plants actually assemble cars for another OEM? In other words, a GM assembly plant might assemble vehicles other than GM's?

Agreed. apart from home plants, most assembly plants overseas and especially in smaller countries where the volume is smaller are contract assemblers. These include the two plants in Malaysia mentioned in post #11. Sometimes, the manufacturer may have some direct or indirect shareholding in it. The assembly plant that assembles Mercedes in Malaysia is not owned by DCX but a DCX subsidiary had some investment in it - and they assembled other brands also (economy of scale).

[potdar]

In Reply to Parent Post by Sidney Vianna

Do you realize that some assembly plants actually assemble cars for another OEM? In other words, a GM assembly plant might assemble vehicles other than GM's?
Can you explain your strong objection to an assembly plant being TS certified?

Absolutely no objection so long as the certificate (or annexure) states who are the customers that have demanded the certification and whose requirements have been audited as met.

I do know some plants that do not do any subcontracting but are still certified.