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IATF 16949:2016 is a specific ISO technical standard for the automotive industry, developed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) that emphasises defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain.

The standard provides consistent evaluation and certification across the entire worldwide automotive sector supply chain.

Certification is required from all automotive industry suppliers to ensure that their products, tools, machinery, software, etc. have the requisite guarantees in this demanding industry.

At the same time, obtaining this certification increases the international recognition and prestige of the holder company.

IATF 16949:2016 and Saeta Die Casting

Given the requirement to hold this certificate for full access to the automotive market, Saeta has been working towards this goal since 2018. A pre-audit plan was implemented to highlight the points we needed to focus on, improve and fulfil to be able to successfully obtain certification.

After pinpointing the points for improvement and working intensively on updating many of our production and management systems, we were ready to pass the initial AENOR (Spanish Association for Standardisation and Certification) audit in March 2019. Only two months later, in April of the same year, Saeta received a confirmation letter from AENOR.

As simple as that? Not quite.

In April 2020, a year after passing the audit, Saeta will be required to pass a new review audit which would award the company permanent certification. In order to achieve this certification, we must be able to demonstrate that we have been producing parts under the standards of the certificate already obtained for a period of twelve months.

Although this has been a long and extensive task, our experience in obtaining other certificates and quality systems (9001, 14001) and our extensive knowledge and use of Lean manufacturing, have helped us meet the necessary requirements for IATF 16949 certification.

Download the keys for this certification and discover all its features