Successfully Passed the IATF 16949:2016 Audit

NSK Group factories successfully pass the audits of IATF 16949:2016 certification. In the factories, 6 hours of QSM training per person, totaling 2222 hours, are provided for the preparation to the audits.

Before the IATF 16949:2016 certification, steering and suspension parts factory is already certified with ISO/TS 16949:2012, hot metal forging factory with ISO 9001:2008. With revision issues, briefing seminaries are delivered in NSK Group factories. For comprehensive revision studies, entire Quality Management System (QMS) is reviewed under a new perspective. In factories, QMS awareness and internal auditor trainings during a total of 2222 hours are delivered to personnel at every levels. In this respect, each personnel is delivered with 6 hours of QMS training per year. A risk and opportunity analysis is carried out for all processes as part of QMS requirements. With additional requirements, relevant applications are improved by process owners. In addition, preventive actions are updated. Poka-Yoke applications are improved. Following all preparations are completed, NSK Group factories successfully passed IATF 16949:2016 audits made on 8-12 January 2018. Pointing out that all departments actively contributed in audit preparation processes handled under the leadership of NSK Group quality departments, Quality Manager Özkan Kahveci said that: “Even though at a first glance risk-opportunity analysis attracts attentions in the revision process, comprehensive studies contain many novelties vis-a-vis expectations of automotive industry in the operational applications. In all processes, the continuity of the development is ensured thanks to a multi-dimensional perspective requiring leadership of the process owner. With the contribution of all departments, we reviewed the current applications and new requirements with a multi-dimensional perspective. For improvement of the total productive maintenance activities, production and maintenance personnel joined in trainings and refreshed their knowledge and as having equipped such perspective, they put necessary applications into practice. On the other hand, with the system revision, the supplier improvement and evaluation processes are also improved. Some actions are taken, addressed to applications involving software, data privacy and security and advancing technological concepts.” Stating that the most evident gain from QMS application is capability of showing to our new customers the worldwide recognized IATF 16949:2016 certification as a reference, Kahveci adds “While new IATF 16949 standard maintains the benefits of existing ISO/TS 16949:2012, it will bring in further advantages such as easier continuous improvement, increased market opportunities, increased effectiveness and compatibility of applications, increased personnel motivations thanks to their active contribution. IATF 16949:2016 requirements require the support of all process owners including the senior management. In this process, the biggest advantage for us to have a staff and senior management who are experienced and have a command of their processes.