IATF 16949 8.3.3.3 Special Characteristics

[Quality First]

Hello - I am looking for some guidance on the requirements in 8.3.3.3.

In the first sentence, the standard references special characteristics "determined by the customer" and "the risk analysis performed by the organization". Are the special characteristics determined by the organization (using the risk analysis) what most refer to as "internal special characteristics"?

b) (control and monitoring strategies) seems rather vague. Does anyone have additional insight on what is necessary to meet this requirement? Maybe some examples? Additionally, it reads, "... for special characteristics of products and production processes;" this reads like the SC can be a feature on the part, or it can be a process. But I don't see anywhere else in 8.3.3.3 where it references "production processes" as being Special Characteristics. Is the last part of "b)" actually making it a requirement to have at least some processes (not just part features) identified as Special Characteristics? If so, does anyone have any examples they could share?

c) (customer specified approvals). Would anyone have any examples, real or hypothetical, as to what this is?



8.3.3.3 Special Characteristics

The organization shall use a multidisciplinary approach to establish, document, and implement its process(es) to identify special characteristics, including those determined by the customer and the risk analysis performed by the organization, and shall include the following:

a) documentation of all special characteristics in the drawings (as required), risk analysis (such as FMEA), control plans, and standard work/operator instructions; special characteristics are identified with specific markings and are cascaded through each of these documents;
b) development of control and monitoring strategies for special characteristics of products and production processes;
c) customer-specified approvals, when required;
d) compliance with customer-specified definitions and symbols or the organization's equivalent symbols or notations, as defined in a symbol conversion table. The symbol conversion table shall be submitted to the customer, if required.

 

[Quality-Nation]

Most products have a few features that, regardless of others and how well they are controlled, if they are out of spec, render the product useless. Take the proverbial chocolate tea cup. Dimensionally, it me be perfect. It may hold a perfect quantity of cold liquids, but as soon as you put a hot liquid in it, it melts. What’s the key or special characteristic of the cup? The material and its melting point!

 

[qusys]

Hello - I am looking for some guidance on the requirements in 8.3.3.3.

In the first sentence, the standard references special characteristics "determined by the customer" and "the risk analysis performed by the organization". Are the special characteristics determined by the organization (using the risk analysis) what most refer to as "internal special characteristics"?

b) (control and monitoring strategies) seems rather vague. Does anyone have additional insight on what is necessary to meet this requirement? Maybe some examples? Additionally, it reads, "... for special characteristics of products and production processes;" this reads like the SC can be a feature on the part, or it can be a process. But I don't see anywhere else in 8.3.3.3 where it references "production processes" as being Special Characteristics. Is the last part of "b)" actually making it a requirement to have at least some processes (not just part features) identified as Special Characteristics? If so, does anyone have any examples they could share?

c) (customer specified approvals). Would anyone have any examples, real or hypothetical, as to what this is?



8.3.3.3 Special Characteristics

The organization shall use a multidisciplinary approach to establish, document, and implement its process(es) to identify special characteristics, including those determined by the customer and the risk analysis performed by the organization, and shall include the following:

a) documentation of all special characteristics in the drawings (as required), risk analysis (such as FMEA), control plans, and standard work/operator instructions; special characteristics are identified with specific markings and are cascaded through each of these documents;
b) development of control and monitoring strategies for special characteristics of products and production processes;
c) customer-specified approvals, when required;
d) compliance with customer-specified definitions and symbols or the organization's equivalent symbols or notations, as defined in a symbol conversion table. The symbol conversion table shall be submitted to the customer, if required.

You should have surely in place FMEA activity for product and process for the question a) . For the b) spc in place with reaction mechanism procedures , including control check ( defects, etc) . For the c) customer could request the approval of some controls, if so, you shall implement.

 

[Quality First]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, we have risk analysis (FMEA) in place. You answered some of my questions. I am still a little confused about "b)" development of control and monitoring strategies for special characteristics and production processes. Is this requiring that some processes be designated as special characteristics?

 

[qusys]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, we have risk analysis (FMEA) in place. You answered some of my questions. I am still a little confused about "b)" development of control and monitoring strategies for special characteristics and production processes. Is this requiring that some processes be designated as special characteristics?

I don't think so. You should have in place methods of control in your control plan related to special char where you have determined that ( as per me FMEA) or deployed by customer. For example , a specific visual inspection on product. In that case you should have in place procedure and MSA.

 

[malasuerte]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, we have risk analysis (FMEA) in place. You answered some of my questions. I am still a little confused about "b)" development of control and monitoring strategies for special characteristics and production processes. Is this requiring that some processes be designated as special characteristics?

No. First off - let's simplify this:

1. Determine special characteristics, then
2. Determine and "b)" development of control and monitoring strategies for special characteristics

1. I determine THICKNESS is a special characteristic - too thick, too thin and there will be issue
2. So now I need to determine and develop how I will control, measure and monitor thickness - I CONTROL by creating a process that ensures the thickness is with its specs - this could be timed, weight, dimensions, etc. Now, I monitor the process - this could be through FDC, visual, a timer alarm, etc. Now, I measure - when able, the item is measured with calipers, digital, etc.

That's it.

 

[Enghabashy]

1- internal S characteristics issues /inputs could be classified from its major effect on customer S C output " i.e : drawings issuance /output /FMEA ;--etc--
2- if there's legal requirement --more focusing on the input /outputs for classifying/rating Internal SC -- it's more critical issues

 

[Quality First]

Thank you.

I found this in the IATF 16949 1st Edition 1 October 2016
•3.1 Terms and definitions for the automotive industry
•Special characteristic - classification of a product characteristic or manufacturing process parameter that can affect safety or compliance with regulations, fit, function, performance, requirements, or subsequent processing of product.

Based on this, I think it answers one of my main questions, which was, does the standard state that special characteristics can be/are processes (parameters)? By the definition given above, the answer is very clear.

But this leads to my next question... if an organization does not have any "manufacturing process parameters" identified as special characteristics, does this constitute a finding (NCN) in an audit?

 

[qusys]

Thank you.

I found this in the IATF 16949 1st Edition 1 October 2016
•3.1 Terms and definitions for the automotive industry
•Special characteristic - classification of a product characteristic or manufacturing process parameter that can affect safety or compliance with regulations, fit, function, performance, requirements, or subsequent processing of product.

Based on this, I think it answers one of my main questions, which was, does the standard state that special characteristics can be/are processes (parameters)? By the definition given above, the answer is very clear.

But this leads to my next question... if an organization does not have any "manufacturing process parameters" identified as special characteristics, does this constitute a finding (NCN) in an audit?

To respond to your question, thsi should come from your process FMEA ( clause 8.3.3.3 of IATF standard). Interpreting your post and what you said, I presume that in your process flow you have not manufacturing process parameter that are "critical" for your product. Consider that the process flow is from incoming to shipping through production.
Auditor usually match FMEA and control plan to verify if they are aligned in this sense.
In addition, I think that also clause 6.1.2.1RIsk analysis requirement shall be taken in consideration.

 

[malasuerte]

Thank you.

I found this in the IATF 16949 1st Edition 1 October 2016
•3.1 Terms and definitions for the automotive industry
•Special characteristic - classification of a product characteristic or manufacturing process parameter that can affect safety or compliance with regulations, fit, function, performance, requirements, or subsequent processing of product.

Based on this, I think it answers one of my main questions, which was, does the standard state that special characteristics can be/are processes (parameters)? By the definition given above, the answer is very clear.

But this leads to my next question... if an organization does not have any "manufacturing process parameters" identified as special characteristics, does this constitute a finding (NCN) in an audit?

No - it would not constitute a NC.

Don't make it so complicated - Determine what the SCs are and be done. If they are all product, fine. If they are both, fine.