Underwriters Laboratories Offer ISO/TS 16949 Certification Single quality system harmonizes multiple standards for automotive industry Hong Kong, May 19, 2000/PRNI HK-AsiaNet/ - Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is among the first group of certification bodies recognized by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) for ISO/TS 16949, the ISO Technical Specification developed by the IATF to harmonize supplier quality system requirements for the design and development, production, installation and servicing of automotive-related products. Recognized by the IATF, UL is one of a limited number of certification bodies authorized to issue ISO/TS 16949 certifications. ISO/TS16949 offers automotive component suppliers a single certification that satisfies multiple quality system standards including QS-9000 (North America), VDA 6.1 (Germany), AVSQ (Italy) and EAQF (France). "We applaud the IATF's effort in establishing ISO/TS 16949. Suppliers of automotive products to international markets will have the option of maintaining one quality system certification to meet multiple customer quality system requirements while eliminating multiple certification audits to save costs," said Tamotsu Shioda, UL's regional manager of Quality Registration Services for Asia. "In addition, ISO/TS 16949 is designed to provide continuous improvement while emphasizing defect prevention and reducing variation and waste," added Mr. Shioda. Ford, GM, DaimlerChlysler, BMW, Fiat, PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Renault and Volkswagen will all accept ISO/TS 16949 certification in lieu of QS-9000 and/or VDA 6.1. UL's auditors are currently being trained and qualified for ISO/TS 16949 and UL will begin offering audit and certification services during May, 2000. The IATF consists of an international group of automotive trade associations and vehicle manufacturers including BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, GM (including Opel Vauxhall), PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Renault SA, Volkswagen and the automotive trade associations AIAG (America), VDA/QMC (Germany), SMMT (UK), ANFIA (Italy), CCFA and FIEV (France). The IATF developed ISO/TS 16949 with an aim to provide a common global automotive registration certification scheme that harmonizes the various automotive quality system requirements. UL is an independent, not-for-profit product testing and certification organization that has evaluated products, materials and systems for 106 years. More than 14 billion UL Marks appear on new products each year. For additional details please visit UL's website at www.ul.com For more information please contact China & Hong Kong SAR Ted Lee Tel: (852) 2606 9163 Fax: (852) 2695 8196 Email: [email protected] Taiwan Eve Wu Tel: +886 (0) 2-2896-7790 Fax: +886 (0) 2-2891-7644 Japan Atsuo Jougo Tel: +81-3-3571-3188 Fax: +81-3-3571-3182 South Korea Nam, You-Jeong Tel: +82-2-767-0525 Fax: +82-2-784-4446 E-mail: [email protected] India Ajay Rao Tel: 080-558 1773/4/5/6 Fax: 080-558 1771 E-mail: [email protected] Thailand Douglas Johnson Tel: (662) 229-3419-20 Fax: (662) 229-3422