Powering Performance

The 2017 AIAG Customs Town Hall was a definitive success! We covered a number of extremely timely and relevant topics pertaining to U.S. customs compliance, export control best practices, encryption technology, trade sanctions developments, the ongoing renegotiations of NAFTA, and much more.

Three organizations have rebranded to better represent their growing organizations across multiple supply chains and help them guide companies on their corporate social responsibility paths. EICC becomes the Responsible Business Alliance and CFSI becomes the Responsible Minerals Initiative. The rebranding also extends to the Conflict Free Smelter Program (CFSP).

AIAG is announcing the availability of the new IATF 16949:2016 Memory Jogger. This valuable reference guide describes QMS implementation and maintenance strategies, answers background questions, and explains the Standard’s requirements. Written in clear and conversational language, the Memory Jogger was designed to be accessible to employees at all levels within an IATF 16949 certified organization.

This year’s IMDS & Product Chemical Compliance Conference addresses those questions and many more, with a focus on the evolution of the International Material Data System (IMDS), and the specific reasons we use this global reporting tool. A member of the IMDS Steering Committee will be onsite to share further information on new enhancements for IMDS.

The South Carolina Automotive Council (SCAC) and AIAG Supply Chain and Quality Conference was a success! This 1-½ day event at the end of August took place in historic Charleston, South Carolina, after months of planning and collaborating between the organizing parties. 

If not, now is the time to check out AIAG’s newest eLearning, Essentials for Transition to IATF 16949:2016, which allows you to explore changes in the new standard without ever leaving your desk.

In acknowledgment of the need to consistently maintain standardized processes across global supply chains, the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) has updated an essential quality resource to be more internationally inclusive.

The automotive industry is expanding the use of 3D CAD systems and related technology from engineering and product design to tooling, process development, manufacturing operations, and many other downstream business areas.

With the release of the new IATF 16949 global quality standard, the scope now includes products with embedded software. Training is needed to support the new requirements for assessing the organization’s and suppliers’ software development processes.

AIAG recently announced the creation of a Core Tools Forms Software project. The second Voice of the Customer Survey was sent out, and the results show a strong international interest in a cloud-based application to complete several very technical forms related to product and process development (FMEA, Control Plan), measurement system capability evaluation (MSA), and product release (PPAP) that are part of the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process.