The automotive industry uses a variety of standards to ensure the quality of products and the ethical behavior of auto companies. Businesses in this industry can seek certifications to show their compliance with these standards to their customers, shareholders and organizations that provide oversight. If you work in the automotive industry, it may be helpful to learn about these certifications and how they might benefit your business. In this article, we explore what automotive industry standards are and why they’re important, list the standards and describe certifications that companies can obtain to show their compliance with industry standards.
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What are automotive industry standards?
Automotive industry standards are regulations that help auto companies respond to the changing requirements of the industry and improve their products and processes. They can help companies respond to new technology, decrease their environmental impact, improve safety and make their supply and manufacturing processes more efficient. There are standards specific to the automotive industry and standards that apply to multiple industries. While many of these regulations come from international oversight organizations, companies often obtain certifications of compliance from third parties in their country.
Types of automotive industry standards
These are the primary standards that automotive industry professionals comply with:
IATF 16949
IATF 16949 is a standard that affects the vehicle manufacturing process and the supply chains that provide materials to auto manufacturers. Some of the primary aims of this regulation are to prevent waste in the supply and assembly process, avoid manufacturing defects, improve the quality of manufacturing processes and increase the safety and reliability of vehicles. The International Automotive Task Force developed the regulation to coordinate the quality standards of different countries.
ISO 9000 family
The ISO 9000 family is a comprehensive set of standards that provides goals to help a variety of businesses improve their practices. The ISO 9000 family of standards includes seven quality management principles that include customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision-making and relationship management. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publishes the ISO 9000, however, businesses seek certifications of compliance with these standards from third parties.
ISO 14000 family
The ISO 14000 family is a series of standards that the ISO publishes for companies around the world. The goal of these standards is to ensure that businesses minimize their harmful impacts on the environment. They include topics like determining the environmental impact of company processes, setting and meeting environmental management goals and correcting harmful processes. Companies can seek certifications in ISO 14000 compliance from a wide variety of organizations in many countries.
ISO 45000 family
The ISO publishes the 45000 family of standards to help businesses create better working conditions for their employees. It gives guidelines to minimize risks in the workplace and to build systems that promote the wellbeing and safety of staff. It also provides methods for investigating accidents in the workplace and for improving the mental health of employees. A wide variety of countries around the world use the ISO 45000 standards and can seek certification from organizations in their area.
ISO 27000 family
The ISO 27000 family is a set of standards for all sectors that detail processes for managing information security. They can help companies maintain the security of their vital data and their customer’s data. These standards detail techniques that businesses can use to secure their information systems and respond to security threats. They also provide metrics that companies can use to gauge the security of their information systems and guidelines for certifying compliance.
TISAX
TISAX stands for the Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange. It is a standard that helps automotive companies provide a reliable and secure exchange of data between auto manufacturers and their customers. It allows automotive industry professionals to analyze their security processes, monitor threats and improve their information services security.
ISO 26262
ISO 26262 is a standard that automotive professionals in many countries use to ensure the safety of electronic systems in vehicles. It summarizes possible electronic malfunctions in vehicles, describes ways to monitor these malfunctions and proposes ways to mitigate them. It provides these suggestions for every phase of the manufacturing process, from concept to decommissioning.
ASPICE
ASPICE stands for Automotive Software Performance Improvement and Capability dEtermination. It outlines best practices for evaluating the performance of software systems important to the automotive industry. ASPICE offers ways for vehicle developers to assess the reliability and functionality of software systems, including a graded series of tests. This can help ensure the quality of new vehicle software as this technology changes rapidly.
GDPR
The GDPR or General Data Protection Regulation is a European standard that impacts the use and processing of data. It ensures that only individuals or organizations with proper authorization can access private data and describes guidelines for granting access. Although it primarily deals with citizens of the EU, it also applies whenever companies are processing the data of an EU citizen.
Why are automotive industry standards important?
Automotive industry standards can provide many benefits to auto manufacturers, their customers and partners. They can help manufacturers improve their processes, gain customer trust and build better products. These standards can also help customers locate ethical companies that may provide reliable products and secure data processing. Partner companies can use these standards to determine if other businesses match their values and whether they might provide beneficial business opportunities.
7 Automotive industry certifications
These are some common auto industry certifications that companies can earn to show their compliance with industry standards:
1. IATF 169949
This certification demonstrates that a company is fulfilling the of the IATF 169949 standard in their production processes. It’s often necessary for companies that directly supply auto manufacturers. The IATF 169949 certification shows that a company is dedicated to continual improvement, defect prevention and waste elimination. Businesses can obtain certifications from a wide variety of licensing bodies after they complete an auditing process.
2. ISO 9001
The ISO 9001 certification shows that a company is complying with the ISO 19000 family of standards in their practices. It can demonstrate that a business is committed to excellence and improvement in their customer relationships. Businesses can earn this certification through a third party after completing an audit process.
3. ISO 14001
The ISO 14001 is an important certification that shows a company’s dedication to environmental responsibility. It’s based on a business’s compliance with the ISO 14000 series of standards. The ISO 14001 shows that a firm is working to reduce their negative environmental impact in all of their processes and can help companies build a more positive relationship with their customers and avoid environmental sanctions.
4. ISO 45001
ISO 45001 certifications can demonstrate that a company is dedicated to promoting the wellbeing of its employees. This certification shows that accompany is complying with the ISO 45000 series of standards. The ISO 45001 can help a company show that it values its employees and attempts to prevent workplace injuries, emergencies and losses of productivity related to these events. This can help businesses find partners and attract valuable employees. Companies can seek this certification through a variety of third-party organizations.
5. IQNet SR10
The IQNet SR10 certification shows a business’s commitment to social responsibility in its operations. It certifies that a company is attempting to manage its environmental impact and its effects on the communities it serves. Although the SR10 certification is similar to the ISO 45001, companies work with IGNet to complete the auditing and certification process instead of third parties.
6. EMAS
The EMAS certification is another credential that can help businesses gain recognition for their dedication to reducing environmental impact. It shows that a business is monitoring its impact and constantly looking for ways to reduce emissions and other harmful effects. It’s similar to the ISO 14001 certification, although auditors use a distinct set of requirements to judge a business’s compliance.
7. TISAX
The TISAX certification shows that accompany is complying with the privacy and data processing regulations in effect in the EU. This can allow them to work with European customers and partners. Companies can earn their TISAX certification through a small number of credentialing organizations in the EU.
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