QMS standard behind / under VDA?

mfennema said:

Like many people before me, it seems, I have become involved with making sure we meet the requirements of VDA 6.3 et al.

I understand how 6.3 fits into VDA Part 6: 6.3 describes how to conduct process audits; Part 6 is all about audits. I understand how VDA Part 6 fits into the general VDA Part X architecture: Part 6 is all about audits; other parts describe other requirements, which include control of documents / records, PPAP, etc. I get that. (Though please correct me if I'm wrong.)

These standards all describe _parts_ of a quality management system, but I don't see any document, like TS 16949, that actually defines _all_ the requirements of the management system.

Am I misreading? Or have I not read enough? Is the full VDA QMS defined somewhere--and if so, where--or is it just the sum of its parts?

Thanks.

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Kales Veggie said:

VDA 6.1 was the QMS standard, but has been replaced by ISO/TS 16949.

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Helmut Jilling said:

I have had several clients who have customers who are doing a detailed supply chain audit on their systems using a detailed checklist titled VDA 6.3. The checklist is not really process approach, and it does go beyond TS-16949 requirements.

I thought TS was going to obsolete VDA, but apparently some German OEs like Volkswagen are keeping it alive as a CSR. I recommend you get a copy of your customer's VDA checksheet and add it to your internal audit as a supplement...

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Kales Veggie said:

I am not aware that TS was going to replace VDA, it would be impossible. VDA has over 20 different standards.

VDA is a lot more than just 6.1. "VDA checksheet" is ambiguous. So what is the VDA checksheet you are referring to?

6.3 was updated to the 2nd edition in 2010 and touches on the process approach.

Moreover TS does not specify what standards to use for product planning, product approval and measurement system analysis for example. Those are specified in the CSR and every OEM has the liberty to define what standards to use beyond TS.

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Helmut Jilling said:

As you know, in the 90's the USA OE's used QS-9000, and Europe used VDA. The intent of TS was to combine the whole world OE's into a single automotive standard - TS-16949. For many years, over here in the US, we heard very little about the VDA standard after that.

In recent years, a few of my clients reported that their German customers were starting to do supply-chain audits on them, using a VDA 6.3 checksheet. It gradually took on steam, and I heard recently that VW was imposing it on many or most of their supply chain. This has caused the tier 1's to apply it to their supply chains as well.

I have only seen one such checksheet. I assume it could be considered a CSR. But it was titled VDA 6.3, and it was very much a "checksheet" style audit applied to my clients, not a process approach audit. A gap analysis with 80+ questions. Half of them were covered by TS and the other half went beyond TS to other imposed requirements. The first pass for one of my clients was pretty ugly, with dozens of findings against requirements no one told them were requirements to be implemented. Not in the CSR either, as far as I could see. Ironically, the customer auditor admitted a lot of suppliers were complaining that they had not been informed about these new requirements...wow....really? ...imagine that....

Customers can impose new requirements, but there should be a process for communicating these and allowing time to learn and implement them. Springing them on a supplier in an audit is not the way TS is supposed to work!!

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Kales Veggie said:

First of all the use of the term "VDA" is too ambiguous and causes confusing. VDA is an organization, not a standard. For example the VDA has a standard for product approval (similar to PPAP).

1) Besides the German VDA 6.1, the French had their own standard (and I believe the Italians as well). Yes, ISO / TS 16949 was going to commonize the QMS requirements.
2) VDA 6.3 has been around for a long time. I was exposed to both 6.1 and 6.3 in 1999 when Volkswagen audited my company to become a supplier to Volkswagen in Mexico. There was no surprise as it was communicated clearly by VW ahead of time.
3) You are correct that 6.3 goes beyond the TS requirements. 6.3 is not a quality systems audit. It is a process audit, which includes guidance and some best practices. It rates and ranks the supplier. In my opinion, it is a better method than ISO/TS 16949 "comply / not comply" "effective / not effective" result. Based on my experience with doing many 6.3 style audits, the 6.3 process audit does identify the world class suppliers and identifies weaknesses.
4) I also received "panic" inquiries about suppliers getting two day notice from their customer for a 6.3 audit.
5) VDA 6.3 standard is for sale at www.vda-qmc.de.

Lastly, I hear that comment "no one told me" quite often. When I then ask the next question, I often discover that someone in that company dropped the ball (sales? plant manager?).

.

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