ISO / TS 16949:2009 certification is an international standard and "technical specification" containing requirements for establishing and maintaining a quality management system for the design and development, production and installation (when relevant) and service of automobile-related products. The 20 element structure of QS 9000 and ISO / TS 16949 : 1999 is now a thing of past. The 2009 version has adopted the content and structure of ISO 9001 certification : 2008, which promotes a "Process Approach" to develop, implement and improve a quality management system.

Benefits of ISO/TS 16949

1. Fosters improved product & process quality.
2. Incorporates the best lessons learnt from the global automotive realm.
3. Provides additional confidence for global sourcing.
4. Ensures a global quality system approach in the supply chain for supplier/subcontractor service consistency.
5. Reduces variation, waste & improves the overall efficiency in production levels.
6. Eliminates the need for multiple third party registrations.
7. Provides a common platform to address worldwide quality system requirements.
8. Formatted to allow easy conversion to ISO9001/2008.
9. Advantageous to the up gradation of existing quality systems.