Requirements traceability in IATF 16949
IATF 16949 asks that product design output is expressed so that it can be verified and validated against the design inputs, and that every design change after first approval is assessed, validated and signed off inside the organisation before production, with the software and hardware revision levels recorded for products with embedded software.
- standard
- IATF 16949: automotive quality management, the design and development supplementals
- edition held
- IATF 16949:2016, as the export names it
- clauses cited here
- 2 of the 105 held; shown when you tick IATF 16949
- every clause we hold
- IATF 16949, clause by clause
Where each finding cites it
- 2No verification method or no linked verification: 8.3.5.1
- 4Changed after its last passing verification: 8.3.6.1
The columns that show it
Verification Method, Verified By, Justification, Last Changed, the result dates and Revision and the results: Requirement Revision. The requirements traceability matrix template carries every one.
What it asks, clause by clause
2 clausesProduct design output is expressed so that it can be checked (verified and validated) against the design inputs. As applicable it includes: the design risk analysis (FMEA); results of reliability studies; special characteristics of the product; results of design error-proofing, for example DFSS, DFMA and FTA; the product definition, covering technical data packages, 3D models, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and product manufacturing information; 2D drawings; outcomes of design reviews; guidelines for service diagnosis, together with instructions for repair and for serviceability; requirements for service parts; and requirements for packaging and labelling for shipment. Interim design outputs should include engineering problems being settled through trade-off. As revised: SI 30 (November 2025): item i) becomes requirements for replacement service parts, in line with the Rules 6th edition.
Held text: IATF 16949:2016, our statement of the clause, not the instrument verbatim.
what an assessor asks to see Design output package covering a) to j) as applicable.; Traceability from each output to the design inputs.
where it usually breaks Serviceability instructions and service part requirements missing from the output.; Special characteristics absent from the drawing package.
Once a product has had its first approval, every design change, supplier proposals included, is assessed for its possible effect on fit, form, function, performance and durability, is validated against customer requirements and is approved inside the organization before it is put into production. If the customer requires it, the organization first obtains documented approval from the customer, or a documented waiver. For products that contain embedded software, the change record documents the revision levels of both the software and the hardware.
Held text: IATF 16949:2016, our statement of the clause, not the instrument verbatim.
what an assessor asks to see Change evaluation and internal approval records before implementation.; Customer approvals or waivers where required.; Software and hardware revision levels in change records.
where it usually breaks Supplier-proposed changes implemented without evaluation.; Software revision not recorded with the change.