The benefits of IATF 16949 cannot be overstated;
companies large and small have used this standard to great effect, discovering
and securing tremendous cost and efficiency savings. Here are the benefits:
Improvement of your credibility and image – Because IATF
16949 is an internationally recognized standard, it has become the basis for
creating a Quality Management System (QMS) around the world, replacing many
previously published requirements. When a company is looking for a supplier, it
is often a requirement to have a QMS based on IATF 16949 in order to be
considered. This is particularly the case if you are competing for jobs in the
automotive industry. Attaining IATF 16949 certification is often a must in
these cases.
Qualify to supply the automotive industry – This is one
of the main drives for companies to get certified against IATF 16949. In order
to get big customers from the automotive industry, you have to demonstrate that
you are able to provide high-quality products with no defects, and an IATF
16949 certificate will prove it.
Improvement of customer satisfaction – One of the quality
management principles that are the foundation of the IATF 16949 requirements is
to improve customer satisfaction by planning for and striving to meet customer
requirements. By improving your customer satisfaction, you will retain more
repeat customers, since happy and satisfied customers are the key to keeping
customer loyalty. And, such customers bring in additional revenues.
Better process integration – By looking at the overall
process interactions through the process approach of IATF 16949, you will be
able to more easily find improvements in efficiency and cost savings. This is
done through eliminating the waste that can occur when processes are maintained
without a view of the inefficiencies that can arise during process handoff. The
better process flow can also be used to drive efficiencies towards fewer errors
and resulting reworks, which can improve cost savings.
Improve your evidence for decision making – A second
quality management principle of IATF 16949 is the need to use evidence-based
decision making. By driving your decisions based on the evidence, rather than
on “gut feelings,†you can be more focused on applying resources to the areas
that will improve efficiencies and increase cost savings with less trial and
error to find the right decision. In addition, by monitoring the process you
are improving, you will be able to see how much improvement has happened based
on the data.
Create a continual improvement culture – Continual
improvement is a third quality management principle of IATF 16949. By adopting
this culture to improve your processes and organizational output, you will find
efficiencies and cost savings, including the use of systematic processes when
problems occur in order to reduce the impact of the problem and increase the
speed of recovery. By making this continual, improving year after year, the
company can see continuing benefits from this.
Engagement of employees – Employees who are involved in
the improvements of the processes they work with are happier and more engaged
employees. Engaged employees are more productive and will help the company
better improve and save, especially when they understand how the quality of the
process depends on them.
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