I am in the middle of a lengthy debate and thought I would seek input from the most dedicated group of Quality afficionados I have easy access to, so here goes.

From the Daimler Chrysler Customer Specific requirements Feb 2005 -

4.2.1.9.1 Layered Process Audits

-Audit process shall involve multiple levels of management, from line supervisor up to top management.

-Top management at plant shall conduct process control audits at least once per week. Delegation of this activity will not be accepted with the exception of extenuating circumstances.

The question is Who is the "Top Management" that is being referred to in this section? Please give me your opinions and if possible state your logic for reaching them.

Not having dealt with DC since this requirement has been in existence, I don't know how this is generally interpreted, but the word "top" in this sense doesn't leave much room for interpretation.

Not having dealt with DC since this requirement has been in existence, I don't know how this is generally interpreted, but the word "top" in this sense doesn't leave much room for interpretation.

It would appear not to, but the debate here centers around the Plant General Manager. Is this requiring that he be conducting these weekly, or is the Operations Manager who is responsible for the Manufacturing areas the "Top" manager affected here?

Note, I haven't dealt with D-C as a tier 1 supplier, and have not had any customer require that we meet the customer specific requirements of the "big 3". We're a tier 2 ISO/TS 16949 certified supplier, and have customer specific requirements from our customer's, but have yet to have any from one of the "big 3" flowed/forced down the supply chain to us. Based on training I've recieved over the years, I'd interpret top management to be exactly that - so whatever title is used for the highest management position at the plant, would be included in top management.

Good luck in getting "top management" to actually follow the requirement.

4.2.1.9.1 Layered Process Audits

-Audit process shall involve multiple levels of management, from line supervisor up to top management.

-Top management at plant shall conduct process control audits at least once per week. Delegation of this activity will not be accepted with the exception of extenuating circumstances.

The question is Who is the "Top Management" that is being referred to in this section? Please give me your opinions and if possible state your logic for reaching them.

I'm not concerned with "who," but I am concerned with "why" ANY process would require a weekly audit. Shades of "Quality by Detection" and other obsolete business practices!

To answer the direct question: If your organization chooses to comply, the top management at the "site" [my interpretation of "plant"] could be an individual or a member of a management team, depending on how YOUR organization is structured.

Please let us know what you ultimately decide or learn from the DC representative.

I don't even WANT to know how DC defines "process control audits" or what they will expect for documentation this activity has been performed (video tape? sworn witnesses? lie detectors?)

The attached insert is from the training manual for Implementing Layered Audits, there are two examples of schedules. Hope this helps.

The attached insert is from the training manual for Implementing Layered Audits, there are two examples of schedules. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the attachment. Do you have a brief explanation to go with the charts? I can see who and what they audit, but not the exact nature of "how" that audit proceeds - does the guy just walk by to see someone is at the station and operating a process or does he do something similar to what a internal auditor does [should do] when the same process is audited? (confirm input and output match the process plan)

Hi Wes,

The presentation from DC is attached. If your questions are not answered by the presentation let me know and I will get you what is needed.

Take care,

We are in it together

During our audit last week the auditor implied that we did not have to require the plant manager (who is highest level here) to perform an audit weekly...just someone on the management team. Currently we have each of our managers audit an area weekly.

Our LPA schedule is as yours, we schedule the managers to audit an area weekly, i.e, first week Quality Manager audit one area, second week Materials Manager another area, etc..then our Plant Manager audits maybe every 5 weeks, but the interpretation of our external auditor about top Management is that it should be the Top person. He expects to see audits made weekly by the Plant Manager (besides another managers).

Is there any specific definition given by DCX about top management?