Timeline for processes audit
Can you please verify: do we audit all processes 1 time for every 3 years (=3 times in a 3-year cycle) or is it only 1 time in 3 years?
It states that we have to audit all processes over a 3 year cycle/audit program/period.
Do we audit all process each year during the 3 years, which would equal 3 audits per process or,
Do we audit 1 time during the 3 year period so each process is audited 1 time in 3 years?
I am trying to get clarification on the requirement.
I believe, and in my past experiences, I have audited all processes each year in a 3 year cycle, so each process is audited 3 times in the 3 year cycle.
(in other words each process-full QMS processes must be audited every year)
The question has arrised at my new place of employment, but the standard is not clear.
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IATF 16949 DOCUMENTATION TOOLKIT
Step-by-step implementation for smaller companies.
Find out more 
IATF 16949 DOCUMENTATION TOOLKIT
Step-by-step implementation for smaller companies.
Find out more
IATF 16949 DOCUMENTATION TOOLKIT
Step-by-step implementation for smaller companies.
Find out more
According to IATF 16949:2016 standard, while making audit plans for the system and for the manufacturing process, it should be considered risk-based.
These risks should be determined as follows:
- Process changes Internal and external problems
- New process or processes
- New products or production technologies
- Organization changes
- Performance trends Customer complaints
- etc
The risk level should be determined according to these situations and the frequency of audits should be determined in a 3-year period. There is no requirement for one audit per year. If there is no risk, a process can be audited once in 3 years, or if there is a risk, another process can be audited 3 times a year.
The IATF 16949: 2016 standard explains as follows.
For System Audit; The organization shall audit all quality management system processes over a three-year audit cycle, according to an annual program, using the process approach to verify compliance with this Automotive QMS Standard. Integrated with these audits, the organization shall sample customer-specific quality management system requirements for effective implementation. The complete audit cycle remains three years in length. The quality management system audit frequency for individual processes audited within the three-year audit cycle shall be based upon internal and external performance and risk. Organizations shall maintain justification for the assigned audit frequency of their processes. All processes are required to be sampled throughout the three-year audit cycle and audited to all applicable requirements in the IATF 16949 standard, including ISO 9001 base requirements, and any customer-specific requirements.
For Manufacturing Process Audit; Each audit does not have to cover all shifts in one audit (for example an audit of the pressing process could be done on shift 1 and 2, sampling shift changeover in year 1, and then in year 2 or 3 an audit undertaken on the third shift for pressing). However, all manufacturing processes must be audited on all shifts over a three-year cycle, the frequency depending on risk, performance, changes, etc.
For more information, see:
- IATF 16949 Audit Types & How they Affect Process Improvement https://advisera.com/16949academy/blog/2017/11/01/iatf-16949-audit-types-how-they-affect-process-improvement/
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Jan 06, 2021