We spoke to many of our customer and most of them did not care whether we had QS or not, whether we did APQP, PPAP, etc. or not, neither are any of our customers demanding it. At this point of time, we are working towards getting QS certification. I have my first FMEA out and am working on APQP. If the customers do not need that, do I still have to worry about getting it in place? Experienced people please advice!!!

Who are your customers? B3? other non-B3 automotive customers? are you tier 1 or 2? I would be really puzzled if one of the B3 did not care if you did QS!!! There have been breaches in the wall before, but this would be a lulu!!

No, B3 are not our customers. We make truck bodies on chassis supplied by GMC, freightliner, etc. but do not directly supply to any of the B3, so dont be surprised. We are a custom body producing company!!

If you register to QS you have to have systems in place for APQP and PPAP and you have to have at least 1 PPAP package as evidence that your systems can function.

thanks marc!!

If QS is not required,why pursue it?
I would suggest a process implementing TQM & TPM patterned after the Toyota Production System.
You will achieve better results, get more positive management feedback and QS will be easier to implement in the future.

I also think you are better off implementing a TQM program than doing QS. Implementing ISO9000 might be a good base and then implementing a good TQM program. Of course, this assumes that you have good management backing.

We already have ISO9001 and plan to supply to B3 in the future, but do not do it currently and probably thats one of the many reasons we need QS9K.