Automotive standards set by the industry affect consumer aspects of an auto, like safety, reliability and fuel efficiency, by regulating the product and process, ensuring consistent outcomes. The more consistently you adhere to a proven process, the less likely you'll produce a shoddy product.

Technology advances and peer review subject standards to review and revision, enabling an industry to improve products for better value to consumers while improving the process for lower cost. If part of your job assignment is to stay abreast of changes, you can look to the following vehicle standards information sources for help. Three aspects of auto standards information you must consider include:

1. Grounding your knowledge of automotive industry standards for a product;

2. Working through the nuances of automotive industry standards for process;

3. Collaborating with organizations that can assist you with automotive standard compliance.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Brush up on automobile standards for products

It may be easy to overlook, but you need a clear vision of what you're producing before you determine how best to produce it. Federal bureaus, NGOs and OEMs have amassed a library of standards covering autos bumper to bumper, including the paint sprayed on.

I recommend: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducts research and works with OEMs to set standards on automotive products ranging from paint to engine parts. Within the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Motor Vehicle Council concentrates on setting standards for passenger vehicles and light trucks. ASTM International sets standards not only for products but also for the materials used in the product manufacturing process. Type "automotive" or "automobile" into the search window for auto-related standards. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) serves as a certification authority for the various standards-writing organizations in the country.

Comprehend how car standards for the industrial process are established

Founded after World War II, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed a quality management system based on continuous improvement to reduce defects and variability throughout the production process. Industry has adopted their standards to the point where manufacturers follow them like law.

I recommend: In 2002, the ISO produced Technical Specification TS16949 to adopt as the automobile industry standard. Anyone in the auto industry, from suppliers to final assembly, is encouraged to apply for certification. Since 1992, The United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) has sought to encourage technological development in the U.S. auto industry by fostering partnerships across manufacturers to minimize redundant R & D.

Obtain assistance in grappling with auto standards

Don't despair at attempting to master standards in such a complex industry alone. NGOs and private companies operate to assist you through certification programs or to interconnect your company's system with OEM manufacturing criteria.

I recommend: Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) can identify areas for improvement and assist you through the improvement process. They also provide classroom training for personnel. Perry Johnson Consulting can prepare your company for registration or accreditation with the ISO. You can start with free executive overviews of the various ISO standards.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Rather than passively swallowing auto industry standards as they arrive without understanding their origin, become a member of a local chapter or committee of an automotive standards association. Associations such as the SAE or ISO carry a lot of clout in the industry and within the federal government. Take the opportunity to change automotive standards in the US, rather than having someone else's changes dictated to you.