Powering Performance

More than 400 automotive quality professionals attended the 2017 AIAG Quality Summit on September 19-20, 2017, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, leaving very few seats in the general addresses and standing-room only in many of the most popular breakout sessions. This level of participation — supported by over 40 exhibitors and sponsors — made this year’s Quality Summit one of the most engaging and valuable quality events in recent years.

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.

As the reality of human trafficking and modern slavery continues to make headlines around the world, automotive manufacturers and their supply chains are operating with heightened awareness. At AIAG’s 2017 Corporate Responsibility Summit, Michael R. Littenberg, partner in the securities and public companies practice group at Ropes & Gray, provided attendees with an overview of the challenges as well as updates on how governments and corporations are doing their part to combat the problem.

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.

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.

Did you miss the Hot Topic Webinar: Solving the Supply Chain Talent Crisis? No worries. It's available on demand!

AIAG is offering a free tool to help suppliers transition to IATF 16949. The tool can be used to perform an organizational gap analysis against IATF 16949 to identify differences that need to be addressed to ensure the supplier’s quality management system meets all the new requirements.

In the September 2016 AIAG eNewsletter, we looked at the evolution of IMDS up to now. This month, we focus on IMDS Release 11.0, scheduled for production release in November 2016, which includes Chemistry Manager.

The future of reporting is almost here! Mark the date in your calendar: GRI Standards will officially launch on October 19, 2016. This follows the approval of the draft GRI Standards by the Global Sustainability Standards Board in late August, and the recent confirmation by the Due Process Oversight Committee (DPOC) that due process for developing the GRI Standards was followed.