Eaton announced that its Belmond, Iowa, plant has become the first Eaton facility to receive the new International Automotive Task Force (IATF)-16949 quality system management certification, which recognizes the highest levels of product quality, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.
The global IATF standard – which replaces the TS-16949 certification that will be phased out by 2018 – is defined by the strict adherence to the demanding requirements of the global automotive industry. It is based on the industrial ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System standard, which is used by the global automotive industry to gauge the ability of automakers and suppliers to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
“We are very excited and proud of the accomplishment by the Belmond team to be the first facility in Eaton to receive IATF certification,” said Andy Short, vice president, Quality, Eaton Vehicle Group. “Receiving this certification represents a culmination of the last few years of system improvements and adjustments to meet the new standards.”
The IATF standard is a process approach methodology aimed at risk avoidance, and to achieve certification Belmond personnel had to be trained, all business processes had to be reviewed and updated, and integrated management systems had to be modified to meet the new standard.
“I could not be more proud of our team and Belmond’s long history of strong quality performance,” said Jason Dunn, plant manager, Vehicle Group North America. “Being the first facility in Eaton to achieve certification to the new standard reinforces our commitment to quality and demonstrates the engagement from everyone in the facility to make this happen.”
IATF members include General Motors, Ford, FCA, Volkswagen, Daimler AG, BMW and vehicle manufacturer trade groups, such as the Automotive Industry Action Group in the U.S., Associazione Nazionale Fra Industrie Automobilistiche in Italy and Verband Der Automobilindustrie in Germany.
“These standards represent a change for the entire organization,” said Short. “The revised quality system has been transformed from a purely process related quality system to one which now encompasses risk and enhanced standards of evaluation.”
The Belmond facility employs 188 people and builds heavy-duty engine valves for leading truck and off-highway manufacturers.
