IATF certification ushers BPW into premier league of automotive suppliers

• BPW awarded IATF 16949 certificate – one of only a few in the commercial vehicle segment
• Certification seen as a milestone prior to launch of eTransport axle drive
• Michael Pfeiffer says quality standards are on a par with those of top suppliers

Wiehl, 16.01.2018 --- Its certificate of compliance with IATF 16949 standard enables BPW to consolidate its position as a quality leader in the commercial vehicle industry. The award also cements its position among the world’s elite automotive suppliers. The certification serves as a milestone not only for the company, but also in the run-up to the launch of the electric axle drive eTransport.

BPW has extended its portfolio of quality standards by proving its compliance with IATF 16949, and thus joined the ranks of the world’s leading automotive suppliers. The stipulations adopted by the International Automotive Task Force add numerous requirements and process documents to the existing raft of national and international standards. The audit leading to certification is regarded as extremely tough and has been passed by very few suppliers in the commercial vehicle segment.

“BPW has been seen as a benchmark for excellence in the commercial vehicle industry for almost 120 years,” explains Michael Pfeiffer, personally liable Managing Partner of BPW Bergische Achsen KG. “The certification to IATF 16949 standard elevates our quality promise to a new level. We are aligning ourselves with the leading automotive suppliers in Germany and seeking to at least match their product, process and service credentials.”

Alongside its core operations in the trailer segment, BPW Group is already an established supplier to a handful of tractor unit manufacturers. By obtaining the IATF 16949 certificate, it can now extend the scope of its business activities further. The prestigious quality standard can, for example, pave the way for the launch of BPW’s electric axle drive eTransport, its first zero-emission drive system for vans and trucks between 5.5 and 26 tonnes. “This certificate is a milestone for the entire BPW Group and serves as a massive incentive for all our employees and managers,” insists Markus Schell, who is also a personally liable Managing Partner of BPW Bergische Achsen KG. “It is a record of our ambition to offer customers an appreciable quality advantage.”

The IATF is an ad hoc group of automotive manufacturers (including BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen, GM, Ford, Fiat, and PSA) and trade associations, which is seeking to harmonise standards and thus improve the quality of products for automotive customers. It wishes to develop a consensus regarding fundamental quality system requirements, primarily for the participating companies’ direct (tier-1) suppliers. In Germany the IATF conducts its standardisation endeavours within the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), of which BMW Group is a member.

Automotive industry steps up campaign for suppliers to publish sustainability reports
This year BPW produced its first sustainability report in compliance with the United Nations Global Compact. It describes the company’s extensive activities undertaken for the benefit of the environment, society and its employees. At its headquarters in Wiehl, for instance, BPW generates a portion of the electricity it consumes with its own solar panels and hydropower plant. Since the summer, the remaining portion has been procured exclusively from renewable zero-carbon sources with a guarantee of origin. To an increasing extent, the automotive industry is calling on its suppliers to furnish written evidence of sustainable business practices, as already pursued by BPW for generations.