Rick,
No we are not 'deaf'. TC 176 has the document in their hands and has not stated, as far as I (we?) know exactly when or how the document will be released. My understanding is that ISO/TS 16949 is supposed to be aligned with ISO 9001:2000 which is expected to be sometime in 2002.
A search of the ISO site, including tracking through TC 176's stuff, does not reveal any stated date for update or release. It is not stated anywhere I can find whether the 'release' will be a DIS or the actual standard. The assumption is it will be released as a DIS per the 'normal' ISO system of releasing standards, but I wouldn't count on it.
You might want to read:
http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/iso9000-14000/iso9000/2000rev4.html
and
http://Elsmar.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000066.html for fun.
http://www.transition-support.com is an ISO 9001 alignment matrix and there is some 16949 chatter there.
In any event, it doesn't really matter. The standard may 'just' be a technical specification, however there is an existing registration process and registrars 'accredited' to register companies to the new standard, such as it is. This is not the 'normal' ISO procedure for bringing a document online, as I understand it.
Also see *** Dead Link Removed *** where it in part states: "...The future role of TS 16949 is to be an alternative to QS-9000 and European automotive standards, such as VDA 6.1. The development of the international ISO 9001: 2000 standard will have a major impact on these automotive standards. Currently, IATF plans to release a second edition of TS 16949 after ISO 9001: 2000 is officially released. TS 16949 will then take over as the only automotive standard consistent with the new ISO 9001: 2000 standard..."
-> Even us morons outside the good old USA know when the
-> 16949/2002 will be released.
Well, then,
do tell us smarty pants! If you have more specific information we sure would like you to tell us what it is!