As an IATF-recognized certification body, DQS delivers globally consistent IATF 16949 audits that meet the expectations of OEMs and Tier suppliers across every major automotive market—so your certificate travels with you, wherever your customers operate.
Certificates accepted by every major automotive OEM
Auditors with hands-on OEM and Tier-supplier insight
Harmonized quality across all your plants worldwide
Findings that sharpen your manufacturing processes
IATF 16949 certification opens the door to the global automotive supply chain, but its real value reaches further. It signals to OEMs and Tier-1 customers that your processes are stable, predictable, and ready for serial production at scale. Used well, the standard becomes a backbone for launch discipline, supplier ratings, and long-term competitive standing.
The value of certification extends beyond external proof of conformity. Many organizations use recurring audits and assessment processes as a framework for continuous improvement, operational transparency, and stronger cross-functional alignment. In practice, companies often report effects such as:
The International Automotive Task Force has confirmed that work on the next edition of IATF 16949 is being prepared, with formal revision activity scheduled to begin once ISO 9001:2026 is published. No committee draft has been released yet, and IATF 16949:2016 remains the only valid version for certification today. A transition window will be defined once the revised standard is published—DQS will guide certified customers through every step, so organizations starting their certification now move forward without delay and transition smoothly when the time comes.
Save time and internal effort with a clearly structured certification process. Request your personal quote for your IATF 16949 certification now.
IATF 16949 is the de facto entry ticket to the global automotive supply chain. It applies to organizations that manufacture customer-specified production, service, or accessory parts, and to suppliers who need to satisfy OEM requirements consistently across sites and regions.
Once these requirements are in place, you are ready to contact DQS to begin your certification process.
Once your IATF 16949 management system has been implemented across the organization and you have generated the production and performance data required by the standard, you are ready for certification. You will go through a multi-stage certification process at DQS, conducted in accordance with the IATF Rules for achieving and maintaining IATF Recognition. Your initial interaction will involve discussing your organization, manufacturing scope, customer base, and applicable customer-specific requirements (CSRs). Based on this, you will receive a detailed quote, including the IATF-mandated audit days and a coordinated plan for any remote support locations.
The certification audit begins with a readiness review (stage 1 audit), in which your documentation, internal audit results, management review, and CSR coverage are evaluated against the requirements of IATF 16949:2016 and the IATF Rules. The goal is to confirm that your management system is adequately developed and ready for the on-site assessment. In the stage 2 audit, your auditor evaluates the effectiveness of all management system processes at the manufacturing site, including supporting functions and any applicable remote locations. After the audit, you receive a detailed presentation of the results in a closing meeting, including any nonconformities and observations. Where required, action plans for closing nonconformities will be agreed upon within the timelines defined by the IATF Rules.
After the certification audit, the results are evaluated by the independent certification body of DQS. You will receive an audit report documenting the audit results. Once all standard requirements are met and nonconformities are closed, following a positive certification decision, you will receive your IATF 16949 certificate of DQS.
To support continuous improvement and the ongoing effectiveness of your automotive quality management system, surveillance audits are conducted on-site at least once every twelve months. They cover defined system components, performance trends, customer complaints, and OEM scorecard data, and once again identify potential areas for improvement.
An IATF 16949 certificate is valid for three years. Well before expiration, a recertification audit is performed to confirm ongoing conformance with the IATF 16949 standard requirements. If all requirements of the standard are met, a new internationally recognized certificate will be issued, maintaining your standing with OEM customers without interruption.
IATF 16949 can be combined efficiently with certifications such as ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, or ISO 27001 through integrated audits. Bundling reduces audit days, lowers internal coordination effort, and gives you one consistent view across quality, environment, safety, energy, and information security.
The total duration depends on the size of your organization, the number of manufacturing sites, and the maturity of your quality management system. After the system has been implemented and at least twelve months of performance data are available, the stage 1 and stage 2 audits are typically scheduled within a few months.
An IATF 16949 certificate is valid for three years from the certification decision, subject to successful annual surveillance audits. Recertification before expiry allows continued conformance to be confirmed and a new certificate to be issued without a gap.
Audit effort under IATF 16949 follows mandatory audit-day calculations defined by the IATF Rules, based on the number of employees, manufacturing sites, and applicable remote support locations. Because these factors vary significantly between organizations, a tailored quotation is the only meaningful way to estimate cost. Request a quote to receive a transparent offer for your scope.
The main internal effort lies in implementing and maintaining the management system, generating the required production and performance data, and preparing the documented evidence for the audit. Once these are in place, your engagement with DQS during the audit itself is structured and predictable, focused on conformance against the standard. Learn more about IATF 16949.
