BERLIN, August 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

International standard for process audits in the automotive industry has once again been improved / Comments to the draft version accepted until September  

Since its publication in 1998 the VDA Volume 6.3 has become a globally recognised standard for process audits in the automotive industry. The guideline, which was last updated in 2010, will be issued in its third revised version in early 2017. The publication of the yellow volume was released by the VDA Quality Management Commission on the 20^th of July 2016.

The yellow volume is available for review for the next three months. Company representatives and experts are invited to influence the final document by reviewing the yellow volume and commenting.

A rapid global dissemination of the standard requires adaptation 

"The instructions received by the Working Group 6.3 were to improve the standard for use in international contexts and to simplify the audit process using experience gained in the past" said Working Group leader Carlo Boettger who is responsible for supplier audits for the Commodity Chemicals at Volkswagen AG. "With this revision we are contributing to the very rapid global spread of the standard". Currently there are over 14,600 certified VDA 6.3 process auditors. In comparison: there were less than 2,000 in 2011.

The Working Group VDA 6.3 was founded in July 2015 and is composed of representatives of 18 leading automotive manufacturers and suppliers.

Changes relate especially to three areas: 

1. Revision of the questionnaire: A limit on the process specific points was imposed and standardised terminology has been used. Objective: To ensure auditability and the verification and validation of results at the audit location.
2. Simplification of the valuation methods and explanations of the existing valuation rules: The evaluation using the generic approach is no longer used. The calculation of intermediate results for the single elements to determine a weighted average result is implemented. All questions are weighted equally in the overall result.  
3. The requirements and training concept for auditors have been defined. 

Experts from around the world have the opportunity to comment and make recommendations for improvement to the new version of the standard until the 21^st of October 2016. Through this, the VDA QMC ensures that the new standard covers all requirements that may arise during the practical use.

The yellow volume is available for download in German and English on the VDA QMC website (www.vda-qmc.de/publikationen/gelbdrucke/). Comments can be made using the feedback form and email address provided.  

The comment period ends on the 21^st of October 2016.

The publication of the red volume is scheduled for December 2016

About the VDA QMC 

The Quality Management Center (QMC) has existed for the benefit of German automotive OEM's and their suppliers since August 1997. Under the leadership of Mr Heinz-Günter Plegniere, the QMC operates within the section of the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) run by 
Mr Dr. Joachim Damasky.

The tasks and activities of the QMC are as varied as the issues that companies deal with each day in the area of quality management within the automotive industry. The spectrum of work ranges from the development of systems and methods to the shaping of the future of quality management systems in the automotive industry.

These developments and the orientation of the QMC are guided by the top-level committee for quality matters in the German automotive industry: the QM Commission which is chaired by Mr Knudt Flor from BMW Group.

The QM Commission is made up of VDA members and consists of the Quality Management Directors of all the automotive OEM's, an equal number of suppliers, and the VDA, represented by one of its Executive Directors.

Heinz Günter Plegniere

Verband der Automobilindustrie e. V. (VDA)/German Association of the Automotive Industry
Leiter Qualitäts-Management-Center (QMC)/Head of Quality Management Center (QMC)
Behrenstraße 35, 10117 Berlin
Mail: plegniere@vda-qmc.de
Tel: +49-(0)30 / 89-78-42-0

SOURCE German Association of the Automotive Industry