Define responsibility clearly
Quality ownership follows the activity and the decision, including when work is outsourced.
IAF Standards Programme
IAF AQMS
Automotive Quality Management System
A common quality-management framework for organizations whose work influences automotive products, services, processes and technical decisions.
First Edition · Working Draft 0.11 · Draft for Technical Review
Read the Full Working Draft
14 clauses · Annexes A-P · 128 pages
At a glance
What IAF AQMS Is Designed to Do
AQMS connects management responsibility with the controls and evidence used across the automotive value chain. It is intended to help organizations make quality decisions that are consistent, traceable and appropriate to the risks of their actual activities.
Apply requirements proportionately
The organization selects applicable controls according to its real scope, products, services and risks.
Keep evidence connected
Requirements, configurations, tests, approvals and releases remain linked through a reviewable evidence chain.
Turn results into improvement
Performance data, customer experience, audits and field information should lead to measurable action.
Broad automotive scope
Who the Framework Supports
Applicability is based on what an organization does, not simply on its company label. The framework can therefore support different participants across the automotive ecosystem.
01Vehicle manufacturers and integrators
02Component, system and material suppliers
03Software and digital-service providers
04Engineering, testing and inspection organizations
05Service, aftermarket and logistics networks
06Audit, assessment and certification activities
Framework structure
The 14 Clauses in Five Clear Groups
The full document contains detailed requirements and supporting annexes. This page groups the main clauses only to help visitors understand the overall flow.
| Clauses | Group | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 01-02 | Foundation | Purpose, scope, application, terms and definitions. |
| 03-05 | Governance | Management responsibility, planning, risk, people, resources and information. |
| 06-08 | Realization | Design and development, purchasing, suppliers, production and operations. |
| 09-11 | Product and Evidence | Technology, services, aftersales, measurement, testing and conformity control. |
| 12-14 | Assurance | Performance, improvement, audits, assessment, certification and decision rules. |
Need the technical detail? The working draft contains the complete clause text, applicability guidance, required evidence and Annexes A-P.
Key ideas
Key Points of the AQMS Framework
Activity determines applicability
Requirements follow the activities an organization performs or controls and the evidence needed for those activities.
Outsourcing does not remove accountability
External providers may perform work, but the organization remains responsible for requirements, controls and acceptance.
Modern technology still needs quality evidence
Software, AI, cybersecurity, automated driving and stored-energy systems require controlled and reproducible evidence.
Decisions must be reconstructable
Records should show what was assessed, which configuration applied, what evidence was used and who made the decision.
Using the document
A Working Draft for Review and Preparation
Development status: Working Draft 0.11 is published for technical review and validation. It is not an approved IAF standard and cannot currently be used as the basis for certification or conformity claims.
01Define the organization, sites and operating scope
02Identify applicable activities and requirements
03Compare existing controls and objective evidence
04Record gaps, feedback and improvement priorities
Continue with the full technical document
Review all clauses, definitions, annexes and development notes in the published PDF.