Quality objectives — supplemental (IATF only)
Plain-language summary
Objectives must include customer expectations, be achievable in defined timeframes, and be reviewed at least annually by top management — automotive customers expect their targets inside your targets.
What the clause is really asking
If your customer scorecard targets 0 PPM and 100% on-time delivery, your internal objectives must reflect that. Define objectives to meet customer requirements, time-bound them, and review annually in management review.
What auditors look for
Auditors compare customer scorecard targets against your internal objectives and look for the annual top-management review. A customer demanding 50 PPM while your objective says 500 PPM is an easy finding.
Typical evidence
Objectives aligned to customer targets (PPM, OTD); management review minutes; scorecard comparisons.
How to comply — recommendations
Lift the numbers straight off your customer scorecards into your objectives, then set internal targets slightly tighter than the customer's — you want to find the slip before they do.
Common nonconformities
Internal targets looser than customer targets; objectives reviewed less than annually; customer expectations absent from objective-setting.
Related clauses
Builds on ISO 9001 6.2 / 9.1.2
In the book
Chapter 6 — Planning — Risk, Opportunity and the Discipline of Change treats this clause family in full: what it is really asking, what auditors look for, the evidence that satisfies, how to make it work on a real floor, and where companies stumble. This IATF requirement is covered in the Automotive Edition, in the same six blocks as the ISO clause around it.
Get the free ISO 9001:2026 Readiness Scorecard
Free, instant download. We'll only email you the occasional practical quality update — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Qlause provides interpretive guidance only and is not a substitute for the standard. Refer to your licensed copy of the relevant standard for the authoritative text.