"ISO 900(X)" is no longer applicable since ISO 9002/3 are obsolete standards. We only need to refer to ISO 9001:2000.
It confuses me that we take the requirements of TS so literaly when addressing to whom the standard applies. TS 169649 is a international standard applying to all automotive industries (not just the "Big 3" in the US) and has a requirement that it applies to suppliers. I believe the benefit of TS can apply to the customer. Certainly the intent of TS applies to all automotive customers and tier 1 suppliers. Through the trickle down intent of 7.4.1.2 Supplier qms development, eventually tier 2,3,.... should be TS certified.
Yes, the way TS is written it can only be imposed on certian suppliers to auto customers. But it doesn't pass a common sense test that a standard applies to suppliers but not to the customer. The intent and Quality Managment Principles apply to all. Maybe this should be addressed in the next review of TS? TS looses value for me when it applies to the supplier but not to the customer.
Regards, Dirk
