IATF 16949 still mandates that organizations include a Quality Manual in their QMS (Quality Management System) documentation, even though the most recent version of ISO 9001 no longer has the requirement to document the Quality Manual (for additional information, see: The future of the Quality Manual in ISO 9001:2015).
Given the significance of the Quality manual, a lot of businesses take the "more is better" stance, which is completely at odds with what the manual stipulates as essential and anticipated. Frequently, the manual is just the usual wording with "you shall" changed to "we will," adding no value to the business or the QMS. That must have been one of the reasons ISO 9001 stopped requiring it.
What IATF 16949 Standard Requires?
Determining what the standard needs and refraining from replicating its content is crucial, regardless of how recently you have implemented IATF 16949 or whether you are making the move.
The requirements specified by ISO 9001:2008 were the only ones included in the previous edition of the standard. The manual had to have included the QMS's scope, along with information on its exclusions and justifications, written procedures (or references to them), and, lastly, an explanation of how its various processes interact with one another.
Let’s See the Requirements
The QMS Scope: This is in place to specify the limits of your Quality Management System (QMS); the new IATF 16949 certification will specify the scope. The scope essentially provides a brief explanation of what your business performs, such as "wire and harness production" or "seat belt production." You must specify the locations and procedures that are covered by the scope, as well as the exclusions and the reasons behind them, in addition to the kind of business you are in. Recall that the only exception allowed by IATF 16949 is from clause 8.3 on product design and development.
The IATF Documents Procedures for QMS: In opposed to QMS the IATF 16949 has requirements for the IATF 16949 documentation procedures, and it is safe to assume that the organizations will create some extra, that are not needed for IATF Standard, but it needed for QMS. Simply put the needed written documents but make sure that mistakes are not made, and you need to have a written procedure. The easiest thing to do is to include references in the Quality Manual because, although these procedures may be presented in a brief Quality Manual, they will almost certainly contain some extra information. Additionally, most companies will have additional procedures of their own. This provides a convenient starting point for searching for a technique.
An Explanation of How the Processes Interact with One Another: The easiest way to do this is with a flowchart that lists every process in the company and illustrates how they are connected with arrows. Most individuals can grasp the fundamentals with just a basic top-level flowchart, but a more detailed one could help you better understand how different processes interact within your company. This is what the Quality Manual requires.
Since the most recent edition of ISO 9001 does not specify standards for the manual, clause 7.5.1.1 of IATF 16949 outlines what is required for QMS documentation, including the Quality Manual. Apart from the prerequisites outlined in the earlier iteration of the standard, A document (i.e., matrix) outlining where customer-specific needs are addressed throughout the organization's QMS must be included in the Quality Manual, per the new IATF 16949.
The Requirements of Consumers: You can satisfy this requirement in a variety of ways, depending on how you construct the manual. Since the matrix is mentioned in the standard as one method of documenting this need, you can simply create a separate document where you connect the requirements particular to your customers with the QMS components that support those criteria. The IATF 16949 manual can be updated in the same manner that it references to standard standards, should you choose to include correlations between your QMS and customer-specific requirements.
The Quality Manual is a Reflection of Your Business
The manual is an essential document that links all aspects of a business's quality management system and offers insightful data on the QMS and standards compliance of the enterprise. Companies frequently ask for it while evaluating possible providers, so having a helpful and readable manual is advantageous. When creating a manual, keep the needs of the customer in mind and ensure that the documents are succinct for ease of reading and ordering.
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