Enterprise Quality Management: Automotive issues and perspectives

Abstract: With ISO/TS16949:2002 global quality standard set to replace QS 9000, the automotive industry is poised for change. While QS 9000 is based on requirements from the Big three automakers, ISO/TS16949:2002 not only combines ISO 9001:2000, but includes automotive requirements from national and international quality standards (QS 9000, VDA 6.1, EAQF and AVSQ) along with contributions from British and Japanese automakers.Compliance to different quality system requirements, the complex nature of requirements and multiplicity of specifications placed a significant burden on suppliers, adding to their cost of compliance.