Tier 2 Certification vs. Compliance Question

[cheweedog]

Ts16949

I have recently been audited to the new TS16949 standard. Four days of auditing and we pass the audit criteria. The outside auditing body is now indicating since we are not a direct supplier to the Big 3, that are certification will only indicate compliance to the standard, but not certified. What is the difference, and why is this not mentioned anywhere in the requirements. If I would have know this I would have stayed with our ISO9000:2000 certification only. Any insight to the differences. We have customers that are asking us to work towards TS16949, but it is still not a requirement. What is the IATF roll in resticting who gets certified, or who gets compliance only?

 

[howste]

You don't have to supply directly to "the Big 3" to be certified to the standard. You do have to be doing value-added manufacturing of parts in the automotive supply chain. If you do that, then I would certainly raise a complaint. Could you clarify how you fit in to automotive supply chain?

 

[Geoff Cotton]

Are they saying the certificate will not specify the "Customer Specific Requirements Audited" as you do not ship direct to the OEM's?

 

[cheweedog]

You don't have to supply directly to "the Big 3" to be certified to the standard. You do have to be doing value-added manufacturing of parts in the automotive supply chain. If you do that, then I would certainly raise a complaint. Could you clarify how you fit in to automotive supply chain?

We manufacture encapsulants to the automotive electronic industry, that in turn supply the automotive industry. The auditing body is telling us that the controlling body in Europe is making it very difficult for anyone to get certified. They are saying if you are directly suppling the Big 3, you will be certifiable. If the big 3 is only indicating that they also want their Tier 2/3 suppliers working towards TS16949, that at this point they can only be compliant to TS16949. They are basically saying that you need to be invited to the party to be certified to TS16949. Is this what you understand?

 

[howste]

I disagree with what they said. It sounds like you are supplying product that eventually ends up in vehicles. If so, you are definitely allowed to be certified.

Contact some other registrars and/or the IAOB. I expect they will give you a different answer...