The automotive sector is an industry subject to numerous quality requirements, and ISO standards are essential certifications for many players in the sector. In addition to compliance with high quality standards, these standards make it possible to respond to major issues related to consumer safety and environmental protection. ISO standards are also very beneficial levers for achieving effective cost reduction and boosting the financial performance of a company.

What is an ISO standard?

An ISO standard is a certification dedicated to an establishment and issued by an accredited body (called standards bodies), such as ISO, the International Organization for Standardization. This organisation provides guidelines and strict rules to be respected at all levels of the company. There are several types of ISO standards:

Fundamental standards (relating to signs and terminologies).
Specification standards (relating to the characteristics and performance expected of a product or service).
Analysis and testing standards (which concern the tests to be carried out before marketing a product or service).
Organisational standards (relating to quality management and the organisation's quality process).

To obtain ISO certification, you must apply to the International Organization for Standardization or to AFNOR (French Association for Standardization). ISO standards provide a guarantee to stakeholders (customers, suppliers, investors, subcontractors, etc.) that a company respects its sector’s quality standards.

The IAFT 16949 standard in the automotive industry

The IAFT 16949 standard is a specific standard for the automotive sector. It replaces the former ISO / TS 16949 standard, and is based on the ISO 9001 standard, as well as other international standards from the French, Italian, American, German, etc. automotive industries. The IAFT 16949 standard is not an independent standard: to obtain certification, a company must also meet the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard. This ISO quality standard is intended for all companies involved in the automotive supply chain worldwide: OEMs; suppliers; manufacturers of cars, parts, components, embedded software, accessories, service parts, etc.; design companies; assembly sites for cars and other vehicles; subcontractors that provide automotive parts and finishing services (painting, welding, etc.). The IAFT 16949 standard sets out the quality requirements for the design, development, production, installation and maintenance of automotive parts. For many companies, this standard is a prerequisite for their business and an essential criterion in the choice of supplier. All ISO certifications are issued further to an audit by an approved organisation. The company is then accompanied in the optimisation of its quality approach, and will be subject to regular audits.

Automotive ISO standards: major issues

In the automotive industry, ISO standards make it possible to meet multiple challenges with regard to safety, environmental protection and cost reduction.

Environmental challenges of ISO standards

ISO standards emphasise compliance with strict environmental criteria. They encourage companies to innovate and implement good practices to reduce their environmental impact. The ISO 14001 standard, aimed at companies in all sectors, defines, for example, environmental management practices and encourages companies to improve their environmental performance at all levels: build increasingly economical vehicles; improve energy performance throughout the supply chain; reduce waste; improve the recycling rate; reduce water and energy consumption and use resources more efficiently and thoughtfully; take into consideration the environmental impact of all company operations (air pollution, water management, waste management, soil contamination, etc.).

Safety issues

In addition to these ecological criteria, ISO certifications also define very high safety requirements, an essential commitment in the automotive industry. The IAFT 16949 standard, for example, makes it possible to aim for a high level of quality, to reinforce product control and testing, to follow and anticipate the requirements and standards in force in the automotive industry, and to respect strict criteria in terms of safety, performance and customer satisfaction.

ISO standards and cost reduction

Lastly, ISO standards are also excellent levers that enable companies to optimise and reduce their costs. This standard encourages cost minimisation through the reduction of resources (water, energy), the optimisation of processes and continuous improvement tools, and the implementation of a first-rate quality system. All these operations contribute to reinforcing the operational efficiency of teams, the profitability of a business and the competitiveness of a company.

Why should you pursue ISO certification in the automotive industry?

Obtaining ISO certification to have your Quality Management System recognised offers many benefits for a company. In particular, this initiative allows it to:

Strengthen competitive advantage
Improve customer satisfaction
Reinforce credibility and gain the trust of investors and business partners on an international scale
Harmonise processes and results in terms of manufacturing quality
Increase financial results
Enhance brand image
Implement a CSR strategy
Integrate its Quality Management System in a continuous improvement process.

How can you obtain ISO certification in the automotive industry?

To obtain ISO certification, it is first necessary to undertake a series of measures to ensure compliance with the requirements of the standard. This can prove a time-consuming and complex process, as it requires a number of profound transformations at several levels of the company. It can therefore be helpful to enlist the support of a professional such as an interim manager to conduct this change management.

ISO standards challenges in the automotive industry: safety, cost reduction and ecology