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Why Add CMMC to Your IATF 16949 Certification
IATF 16949 focuses on product quality, process consistency, and continuous improvement. However, the standard was not designed to help you protect sensitive data flowing through those same processes. In particular, the IATF 16949 standard does not mention Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). If your organization manufactures components used in defense systems, shares drawings, specs, or test data that qualify as CUI, or is part of a Department of War supply chain, you may need to earn a CMMC certification.
If Controlled Unclassified Information touches your environment a quality system certification is not enough. CMMC compliance will decide whether you can keep the work.
What if I already have ISO 27001 and TISAX certification?
ISO 27001, TISAX, and CMMC all do different things:
- ISO 27001 proves you can manage an ISMS
- TISAX proves you can meet automotive-specific security expectations
- CMMC proves you can handle DoD data the way the DoD demands
ISO 27001 and TISAX are voluntary market signals while CMMC is or will soon be a contractual necessity for you.
CMMC will not replace IATF 16949.
Out of ISO 27001, TISAX, and IATF 16949, which should you prioritize if you have not earned any of these certifications? While ISO 27001 is beneficiation for the protection of non-CUI data, your customers may require you to earn TISAX and CMMC. Requests will most likely designate the order of priority for you.
Smithers can help
Smithers can help you with ISO 27001, IATF, and CMMC certifications, so if any or all of these are on your radar, contact us today. Let’s kick off with a conversation about your organization and your 2026 needs and wants insofar as certifications are concerned. Then we can proceed from there.