What Is IATF Certification? Why It’s Important for Precision Machining Companies Serving the Automotive Industry
The CNC industry consists of a vast global network made up of thousands of individual manufacturers and conglomerate owners. Due to the span of this industry and its many moving parts, several technical certifications and regulations have become necessary to ensure that shared standards exist both internationally and domestically, as well as from sector to sector. Such certifications are incredibly important, and customers in the automotive industry should ensure that they are working with precision machining companies that uphold rigorous manufacturing standards. One such technical certification that is of particular importance in the automotive industry is IATF 16949.
IATF Certification Explained
If you are involved in the CNC industry, either as a manufacturer, a client that requires precision manufactured parts, or both, you have likely heard of IATF Certification. The International Automotive Task Force created this certification, particularly IATF 16949, as a means of harmonizing several country-specific regulations related to quality management systems. The certification requires mastering a fairly recent specification that simplifies overlapping redundancies in global quality management systems while expanding the scope of existing standards.
IATF 16949 applies to the design, development, production, and installation of automotive-related products. It builds upon existing standards established by ISO 9001, while providing for continual improvement as well as placing importance upon defect prevention and the reduction of waste throughout the supply chain and assembly process.
Why Is IATF Important?
IATF 16949 helps automotive suppliers and manufacturers identify best practices and benefits them in many aspects of their manufacturing, including:
- Improved product and process quality
- Better consistency within the supplier/subcontractor supply chain
- Enhanced confidence in global sourcing
- Reduction of quality discrepancies.
As a result, being IATF certified means a CNC company can attract potential customers that want the assurance of quality without having to do detailed research about the supplier’s standards. Particularly within the automotive industry, manufacturers that lack IATF certification have little to no chance of supplying a car manufacturer with parts.
Application of IATF Principles
IATF certification is fundamentally critical within the automotive industry. The transportation sector requires precision to ensure the safety of the individuals operating a car or truck while also demanding the strength and durability of the parts themselves. This may include parts for:
- Passenger vehicles
- Transport trucks
- Purpose-built vehicle fleets
Automotive manufacturers demand parts prototyping and testing for longevity and accuracy. This is where IATF Certification demonstrates its value. By holding certification, suppliers shorten the time required for a potential customer to vet their quality management systems, as that supplier has already demonstrated internationally accepted standards of manufacturing principles.
Demmer Manufacturing’s Approach
CNC machining is necessary due to the demand for accuracy and long-lasting parts in the automotive industry. Although CNC machines are made to manufacture components that adhere to the specifications of each manufacturing run, there are some things that can compromise a part’s quality. Demmer’s affiliates take this into account and guarantee absolute precision by ensuring that each part is consistent through the use of IATF 16949 quality control systems and the most cutting-edge CNC technology. Because of our precision, our affiliates can fabricate precise parts in large quantities at lower costs and with less overhead.
At Demmer Manufacturing, we support our portfolio companies’ growth by investing in their technology, infrastructure, and people. Learn more about our commitment to quality and our affiliates here.
