The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) has confirmed to Oxebridge that former GM executive Joe Bransky is no longer with the group. Bransky had represented the IATF in various capacities since since 1999.
An anonymous source alerted Oxebridge to Bransky’s departure, which was confirmed this afternoon from an official within IATF. Inside chatter indicates that the split was not entirely congenial. Bransky had been pushing the IATF to resist a blind adoption of the new ISO 9001:2015 “Annex SL” structure for its next ISO/TS16949 revision, while others within the IATF were in disagreement. Dale Hammer, of the IATF’s International Automotive Oversight Board, was one such supporter of Annex SL. When asked to confirm the departure of Bransky, Hammer responded cryptically by claiming, “I don’t give out that kind of information.” The tone of Hammer’s response raises more questions.
Hammer previously caused problems for Bransky when he told the certificate mill Verisys that the IATF would have to honor ISO/TS 16949 certificates bearing any accreditation mark, regardless of whether it was issued by a certificate mill or an IAF-matrixed registrar. That prompted Oxebridge to release a satirical “fill in the blank” TS 16949 certificate featuring 13 fake accreditation logos, but which — under the Hammer ruling — would have to be honored by the IATF.
When asked if Bransky was pushed, Hammer did not respond.
Bransky and the IATF were under increased pressure as news leaked that the Takata airbag manufacturing plants responsible for the massive recalls impacting on GM and Honda were certified to TS 16949. To date, no registrar has confirmed having issued the certificates to Inflation Systems Inc., but the company was previously certified by Entela, and then Intertek. DNV issues current certificates to Takata. The defective airbags have killed five people to date.
Bransky was the public face of IATF, and a frequent speaker at ISO and related events, representing the automotive industry.
Bransky’s replacement will be named at an upcoming IATF meeting on March 23 – 26.
Christopher Paris is the founder and VP Operations of Oxebridge. He has over 35 years’ experience implementing ISO 9001 and AS9100 systems, and helps establish certification and accreditation bodies with the ISO 17000 series. He is a vocal advocate for the development and use of standards from the point of view of actual users. He is the writer and artist of THE AUDITOR comic strip, and is currently writing the DR. CUBA pulp novel series. Visit www.drcuba.world
