“This is the first time that ethics language has been included in an automotive quality standard,” says Tanya Bolden, director of corporate responsibility products and services for AIAG.

The new standard states that certified organisations must implement basic corporate responsibility policies such as anti-bribery, employee code of conduct and ethics escalation (whistle-blower) policies.

Nine North American and European OEMs have already agreed to the corporate responsibility requirements in the new quality standard. By end 2018, 65,000-plus supplier sites certified to the quality standard — mainly Tier One and Two manufacturers — need to be physically audited and re-certified by an approved IATF third-party certification body.

APMEN News, Nov 2016