IATF 16949 Compliance Checklist: Process Audit and Customer Audit Worksheet
This IATF 16949 compliance checklist is organized by process, not by clause, which is how certification and customer auditors actually audit. Each row has a clause reference, an audit question, evidence and a score. Edit it, export to Excel and use it as your internal audit report.
| Process | Clause | Audit question | Evidence seen | Score (0-2) | Finding or note | Auditor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clause numbers follow the IATF 16949:2016 structure. Questions are paraphrased, not quoted. Add rows from your audit program and from customer-specific requirements, which vary by OEM.
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How to use the process audit checklist
IATF 16949 requires a process approach, with audits that cover the quality management system, manufacturing processes and products. Pick a process, select the rows that belong to it, interview the process owner and sample records. Score each question 0, 1 or 2 and write the finding. The conformity percentage gives you a trend between audits. Keep the notes factual: what you asked, what you saw, and what clause it relates to.
- Audit all shifts and all manufacturing processes within the audit cycle
- Include customer-specific requirements as extra rows
- Raise a nonconformity for 0 scores and track it as CAPA
Preparing for a customer audit
OEM customers audit against IATF 16949 plus their customer-specific requirements, often with a process audit following the CQI style approach and a check on special status. Run this worksheet before the visit, focusing on product safety, control plans, error proofing, supplier management and containment of nonconformities. The most common finding in customer audits is a control plan that does not match what operators actually do.
Writing the internal audit report
Export the worksheet and add a cover page: scope, dates, auditors, criteria and a summary of nonconformities and opportunities. For each nonconformity record the requirement, the objective evidence and the process. Internal auditors need to be qualified under clause 7.2.3, and the audit program should be risk based, considering internal and external performance trends.
Common mistakes
Auditing from procedures instead of the floor, checking only documents, scoring a question conforming because the form exists even though it is incomplete, and failing to follow up actions to effectiveness. Treat the checklist as a start and let evidence lead you into follow-up questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IATF 16949 require for internal audits?
A risk based audit program covering the QMS, every manufacturing process and the product, using qualified auditors, with findings followed to effective closure. Audits include all shifts, with frequency based on performance and risk.
Is IATF 16949 a standalone standard?
It is applied together with ISO 9001:2015 and customer-specific requirements. Certification bodies audit against both, so your checklist should include the OEM requirements that apply to you.
What is a process audit checklist?
A set of questions organized around a process such as production or purchasing, covering inputs, controls, outputs and performance, rather than a list of clauses. It reflects how auditors actually follow a process end to end.
How should I score the checklist?
Use 0 for nonconforming, 1 for partially conforming or an improvement opportunity, and 2 for conforming with evidence. Track the average over time, but always manage individual nonconformities with corrective actions.
Netray can connect audit evidence such as nonconformance, SPC and supplier data from your ERP to a private AI assistant that answers auditor questions on-prem.
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