automotive-dqs-kfz in futuristischer farbgebung

What is CARA?

Ute Droege

DQS Expert for ISO 9001 Quality Management

Mar 09 , 2022

CARA - Common Audit Report Application

CARA is a browser-based application developed by the IATF (International Automotive Task Force) to harmonize audit documentation, and has been in use since January 1, 2021. Until then, documentation was handled individually by certification bodies internationally.

With CARA, all IATF auditors worldwide must now use the common documentation platform for their audits in accordance with the automotive standard IATF 16949. Audit documents are now created, edited, stored, and used in a standardized manner - independent of the respective certification body.

As a browser-based application, CARA does not require any additional software. It is not connected to a server or a cloud. The data is stored exclusively in the user browser's internal database, which enables offline use. In turn, the user can also work only with this one browser. CARA focuses on audit planning and nonconformity management, i.e. dealing with and communicating about nonconformities.

If you want to learn more about the audit documentation tool CARA, please read here.

Note: IATF members are all major automotive manufacturers and suppliers in Europe and the USA.