A

IAGs Process Identication Tool helps

organizations address all the require-
ments of ISO/TS 16949:2002. The key
is to develop a step-by-step approach that
includes an initial document review and
highlights areas of the specication that are
both addressed and not addressed by the
organizations natural processes.
Why Identify Processes?
ISO/TS 16949:2002 requires that an
organizations processes be identied. In sec-
tion 4.1, the standard states that the orga-
nization shall:
I Identify the processes needed for the
quality management system and their appli-
cation throughout the organization; and
I Determine the sequence and inter-
action of these processes.
Certication requires that organizations
meet all requirements of ISO/TS
16949:2002. Furthermore, third party and
internal audits must use the process
approach for ISO/TS 16949:2002.
What does this mean? It means that while
all processes need to be identied, not all
need to be documented. Identication of
the processes can be through flowcharts,
procedures, training or other media.
As to when an organization should doc-
ument, IATF recommends full documenta-
tion of customer oriented processes (COPs).
In addition, processes should be fully docu-
mented where needed to ensure quality.
Processes Versus TS Requirements
If your organization has not already dis-
covered this, ISO/TS 16949:2002 has many
ActionLINE Nov/Dec 2003
20
shall requirements. For one, ISO/TS
16949 requires that the organization employ
the process approach. In other words, the
organization must demonstrate that its
processes meet all the TS requirements.
One clarication: employees must fol-
low internal instructions, not technical
specications. Why? Because the organi-
zations internal instructions are part of the
processes that it uses. To meet ISO/TS
16949:2002, the organization must under-
stand how its processes and documentation
are related.
Process-Approach Audits
Auditors cannot audit to the shalls
any longer. Instead, they must follow the
processes and interactions as dened by the
organization. The auditors job is rst to con-
duct a desk audit (document review) to
determine if the organizations processes
meet the requirements of the Technical
Specication. Then the auditor must audit
the organizations processes to determine
if the organization is actually following its
processes. If the organization is following
its processes, and the processes meet the
requirements of the Technical Specication,
then it is a logical progression that the orga-
nization is meeting the requirements of the
Technical Specication. This stipulation
exists for both internal and third-party audits.
To plan for an audit, the organization
should rst dene its processes. Secondly,
the organization should make certain that
its quality management system and process-
es meet the requirements of ISO/TS
16949:2002. How can an organization
accomplish this with a relative degree
of comfort?
Process
Identication
Tool
By Russ Hopkins
and Carla Kalogeridis
AIAGs Process
Identication Tool aids
suppliers in meeting the
requirements of ISO/TS
16949:2002 by providing a
step-by-step approach.
ActionLINE Nov/Dec 2003
21
AIAGs Process Identication Tool
The Process Identification Tool is a
matrix that maps the organizations process-
es to the ISO/TS 16949:2002 requirements.
Simply put, it is an excellent starting point
for companies that are transitioning to
ISO/TS 16949:2002.
Once the organizations quality man-
agement system and processes have been
identied to meet all the requirements, the
requirements manual is no longer needed.
The document review can use the map of
processes to shalls to ensure coverage
for audit planning and oversight review.
Here is a summary of the step-by-step
approach your organization will employ
when using the Process Identication Tool:
I Read the instructions.
I Identify high-level organization
processes, e.g. marketing, product design,
purchasing and sales. These may be customer
oriented or not, but they are the major
processes in the company.
I Identify lower-level processes, e.g. sup-
plier development, stamping, market
research, etc.
Next, for each process, identify the fol-
lowing:
I Inputs (both internal and external)
I Outputs (the product of the process)
I Management responsibility (process
owner)
I Resource management (who does
what and what resources are needed)
I Product realization (steps taken to
produce/develop the product of the process)
I Measurement (what is measured
where and how)
Summary
The AIAG Process Identication Tool
provides a sequential, process-based
approach to identifying all the organiza-
tions processes affecting product quality.
Other benets of the tool:
I It aids in the initial document review
for the ISO/TS 16949:2002 registration
audit; and
I It helps identify the natural hierarchy
of processes including major versus minor
processes, a support process and a customer
oriented process.
Just as important, the organization must
understand what the tool does not do. It does
not ensure the organizations quality man-
agement system is effectively implemented.
It does not guarantee an audit free from non-
conformances. And nally, it does not iden-
tify interactions between processes.
AIAGs ISO/TS 16949:2002 Process
Identification Tool is available as a free
download at the organizations Web site at
www.aiag.org. The tool is an excellent
roadmap as you begin your journey to
ISO/TS 16949:2002 certication.
Russ Hopkins represents Ford on the Supplier
Quality Requirements Task Force and on the
International Automotive Task Force for devel-
opment of QS-9000 and ISO/TS 16949
requirements. Hopkins had signicant input
into the development of ISO/TS 16949:2002
Process Identification Tool and has partici-
pated in several other related work teams. He
is currently a global process specialist in Ford's
Supplier Technical Assistance organization.
Carla Kalogeridis is editor of ActionLINE. For
more information on AIAG quality initiatives,
contact Karen Whitmore, program manager,
at kwhitmore@aiag.org.