Will TS 16949 be aligned to ISO 9000:2000 in the future?

If TS 16949 is going to replace QS-9000 and the other European standards, will it be updated to reflect the changes that are going to come through from the ISO 9000:2000 revision? As QS-9000 is derived from ISO 9001, this leaves me wondering.....

[Marc]

I haven't heard anything yet about any plan to coordinate them numerically or otherwise.

[Roger Eastin]

According to an article in ActionLINE, Hank Gryn from Chrysler and Steve Walsh from Ford, ISO/TS 16949 will NOT replace QS9K for the forseeable future. (Of course, I'm not sure what their window of time is for the "forseeable future".) They also mention in the article that since there is a 3 year period to convert to ISO 9000:2000, QS9K will not issue another edition for that length of time. Also, they expect ISO/TS 16949 to be updated by the end of 2001 (to conform with ISO9000:2000). It is an interesting article.

Thank you for the information gentlemen. You don't happen to remember what month the article appeared in ActionLine magazine do you Roger? If so, please let me know. I am going to subscribe this week, but will also order the back issue if you can remember.
Thanks again.

[Marc]

Originally posted by Roger Eastin:

... ISO/TS 16949 will NOT replace QS9K for the forseeable future.

The important point is that it doesn't matter what happens to QS9000 if Ford, GM and Chrysler accept 16949 in lieu of QS9000 - which is, as I understand it, the case right now.

[Spaceman Spiff]

This may be a technicality, but isn't "in lieu" basically in place of? Which means 16949 is taking QS9K's place.

[Roger Eastin]

The issue is the current one - Jan/Feb 2000.

[Marc]

They're saying one or the other. But take a look - european automakers are accepting 16949 as are others. For example, as I understand it in Germany VDA 6.1 is the 'current' standard but 16949 will be an aceptable alturnate.

Is QS9000 dead? Not yet but I bet you don't see companies registering to it in 4 years. Yes - in lieu of - instead of.