New IATF Stakeholder Communiqué: IATF 16949 Revision 2 Update

IATF AISBL has published a new Stakeholder Communiqué providing an update on the development of IATF 16949 Revision 2.

The communiqué outlines:

• The current status of the revision project.
• The five priority topics that will guide the revision.
• The planned development timeline à traduire en francais et en espagnole

IATF Stakeholder Communiqué

The purpose of this Communiqué is to advise all IATF Stakeholders about the status of the revision to IATF 16949.

IATF 16949 Revision 2 is driven by stakeholder feedback.

Based on this input, five priority topics have been identified to address the automotive industry’s evolving needs while preserving the integrity and effectiveness of the IATF 16949 scheme.

Priority 1 – Simplification, Clarity and Efficiency

The objective of Revision 2 is to make IATF 16949 easier to understand, implement and audit while maintaining its effectiveness. The work focuses on reducing unnecessary complexity, improving the clarity of existing requirements, minimizing variability in interpretation, and promoting more consistent application across the automotive industry, while avoiding duplication with ISO 9001.

Priority 2 – Software Quality Assurance

As software becomes increasingly important in automotive products and manufacturing processes, Revision 2 will strengthen the quality management approach for embedded software. The intention is to apply existing quality principles consistently throughout the software lifecycle to improve software quality without creating unnecessary complexity.

Priority 3 – Tier N Supply Chain Management

Automotive quality depends on the performance of the entire supply chain. Revision 2 will strengthen the management of lower-tier suppliers by promoting a more consistent risk-based approach, improving the deployment of customer requirements, and enhancing communication throughout the supply chain. The objective is to improve supply chain robustness while maintaining practical and auditable requirements.

Priority 4 – Launch Management

Product and process launches represent one of the highest-risk phases of the automotive lifecycle. Revision 2 will place greater emphasis on launch management by promoting a more structured approach to new products, change management and industrialization activities. The objective is to improve launch readiness and reduce quality risks during implementation.

Priority 5 – Customer-Specific Requirements (CSR)

Customer-Specific Requirements (CSRs) are one of the most discussed topics within the IATF 16949 scheme. Stakeholders consistently identify them as a significant challenge. Revision 2 aims to improve identification and management of applicable CSRs.  One of the goals is the identification of common CSRs with the potential of incorporation of common CSRs into the IATF standard, where possible.

Timeline

The following timeline illustrates the current high-level planning for Revision 2.

Dates remain indicative and may be adjusted as the work progresses.

If you have any questions, please email contact@iatf.org