There are different kinds of certifications that you may encounter during PCB fabrication. Some of them include IPC-A-600, UL, ISO 9001, ISPO 14001, RoHS, to name a few. These are global certification standards affecting quality, reliability, safety, environmental management, etc. However, automotive manufacturers are now pursuing IATF 16949 certification targeted for automotive applications. Here you’ll learn more about this certification and why automotive PCB suppliers must have it.
A Short History of IATF 16949
IATF stands for the International Automotive Task Force. IATF established IATF 16949 in 2016, a consortium of automotive manufacturers and organizations that aims to harmonize quality management standards for the automotive industry. Its roots date back to 1999, when it introduced ISO/TS 16949. Originally, though, the certification began as QS-9000 in 1994, which was jointly developed by Ford, General Motors, and Daimler Chrysler.
The first goal of QS-9000 was to “Create a common quality standard for all automotive suppliers”. The standard was based on ISO 9001, which added automotive-specific requirements.
Global automotive manufacturers transitioned to ISO/TS 16949 to harmonize multiple standards into a single certification. Additionally, IATF integrated ISO/TS 16949 into ISO 9001. There were several revisions of this standard until it became IATF 16949 in 2016. This current standard focuses on product safety, risk management, and a robust supply chain.
What is the Purpose of IATF 16949?
Automotive products operate in harsher environments than standard ones. IATF 16949 ensures these car products maintain regulatory compliance with quality and consistency. In addition, component and process tracking are essential to ensure traceability throughout the entire manufacturing process. With this in mind, companies should implement the standard across all stages of the automotive manufacturing process.
Processes where IATF 16949 can be applied
Product Design
Design teams must consider product safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance when creating the product.
Supply Chain and Logistics
Fallback and resilience planning, including strict supplier qualification, material flow, and inventory control, are essential to have a robust supply chain and logistics.
Production and Assembly
Standardization of the assembly process is vital for manufacturing. Defect prevention and traceability help maintain the quality of mass-produced products.
Product Testing
Critical tests, such as vibration, thermal cycling, and safety, to name a few, ensure the product meets safety and regulatory standards.
After Sales
Gathering customer usage data is essential to implementing future product improvements. Product sustainability ensures a longer end-of-life service.
Example IATF 16949 Automotive-Grade Reliability Requirements
Below are some examples specific to automotive-grade testing and requirements
| Example Automotive Test | Example Requirement | Example Outcomes |
| Vibration (Random vibration profiles) | Endure vibration stresses in an automotive environment | ECU, harnessing, and circuit boards should be durable enough in these environments |
| Corrosion / Moisture (ISO 9227 / ASTM B117) | Parts must resist rust and degradation in harsh environments | Use protective and conformal coatings. Do a salt-spray test to assess corrosion resistance. |
| Safety (Clause 4.4.1.2) | Ensure that sudden braking or crashes at a certain threshold are non-fatal. | Validate safety features (airbags, seatbelts, etc.) |
| Thermal (Thermal Cycling) | Components should withstand -40 °C to +125 °C automotive ambient temperature | Use high glass transition (Tg) PCBs |
Why must Automotive PCB Suppliers have it?
Since car electronics are an integral part of the overall automotive package, PCB suppliers should ensure they comply with the stringent requirements of IATF 16949. Below are some of the reasons why certification is essential.
- Big automotive conglomerates like Ford, Toyota, BMW, and Volkswagen, among others, require partners and suppliers to be IATF 16949-certified.
- Important car electronics, such as sensors, ECUs, safety systems, and infotainment systems, are usually mounted on a PCB. With this in mind, the PCB needs to be reliable, consistent, and free of defects.
- Testers should conduct PCB environmental testing (vibration, shock, moisture, and corrosion) in conjunction with this certification.
- By being certified with IAF, PCB suppliers acquire customer trust. It builds confidence with partner OEMS and even Tier 1 suppliers.
- IAF certification guarantees that a PCB manufacturer’s processes are traceable, auditable, and continuously improving.
Additionally, below is a table demonstrating the benefits of PCB suppliers being IATF 16949 certified
Benefits of a PCB Supplier being IATF 16949 Certified
| PCB Supplier Benefits | Explanation |
| Greater Market Access | A globalized market usually requires a lot of certification |
| Ensures Reliability and Efficiency to Customers | Customers gain trust through the reliability and low failure rates of PCBs |
| Competitive Advantage | More certifications mean an advantage to other suppliers who don’t have them. |
| Safety and Critical Requirement trust | More customers trust suppliers with safety and critical requirement certification. |
Some Case Studies Regarding PCB Compliance with IATF 16949
EV Battery Management
Focus: Monitor cell battery voltage and temperature in an electric vehicle (EV)
Approach: High-accuracy Li-Ion battery monitor circuits (BMS) working in an automotive environment
Certifications: IATF 16949 / ISO 26262 / ISO 16750
Outcomes:
- PCB suppliers must ensure their PCBs can withstand harsh vibrations in an automotive environment (ISO 16750 (Automotive vibration standards)).
- The circuit should have dual microcontrollers and employ a diagnostic test mode for functional safety (ISO 26262)
- PCBs should support high Tg (Glass transition temperature) or employ Polyimide laminates that can withstand -40 °C to +125 °C.
- Overall, the supplier must maintain the IATF 16949 compliance standard
Navigation Systems for Automotive
Focus: Automotive Navigation Systems
Approach: Ensure Automotive Navigation Systems can work in an automotive environment.
Certifications: IATF 16949 / AEC-Q / ISO 14001/ ISO 9001
Outcomes:
- AEC-Q (such as Q100 and Q200 or ICs and passives, respectively) ensures each electronic component is reliable and durable in an automotive environment.
- The quality team maintains quality and consistent processes through the general QMS standard (ISO 9001). Additionally, environmental management teams implement eco-friendly, sustainable manufacturing processes in line with ISO 14001.
- Navigation Systems employ communication signals (such as CAN and GPS) that require operation on a PCB. IATF 16949 overall should ensure the final product meets strict automotive quality standards and withstands harsh automotive conditions without affecting signal integrity.
Conclusion
IATF 16949 is an automotive quality management standard that combines different international standards into a single entity. PCB suppliers that use automotive applications in their products must comply with this standard. This process ensures the safety and reliability of their PCBs when used in automotive environments. UET PCB is a global leader in PCB manufacturing, consistently delivering high-quality PCBs that meet IATF 16949 requirements.