Introduction
VDA QMC is a department of the German Association of the Automotive Industry – or
Verband der Automobilindustrie in native language – and has been established to support the German automakers and their suppliers in terms of
quality management. QMC stands for Quality Management Center with special roles and responsibilities, such as the development of
quality management systems, support of the automotive industry, harmonization of methods with
IATF (International Automotive Task Force) regarding
IATF 16949:2016, initiating QM training programs for the sector, and many more.
Source: qMindset.com; VDA.de
Key Features
In the frame of quality management and system development, QMC has established several working groups with hundreds of quality specialist, and created the VDA quality
standards and norms. Unlike
ISO 9001 or IATF 16949:2016, the VDA quality publications are separated into many standards or norms, depending
on a specific topic. The following list contains and briefly summarizes all quality related VDA documents:
- Volume 1: Documentation and Archiving - Code of practice for the documentation and archiving of quality requirements and quality records.
- Volume 2: Quality Assurance for Supplies - Production process and product approval PPA.
- Volume 3 / Part 1: Ensuring reliability of car manufacturers- Reliability Management.
- Volume 4: Quality assurance in the process landscape (includes Product- and Process FMEA).
- Volume 5: Capability of Measurement Processes / Capability of Measuring Systems.
- Volume 5.1: Traceable Inline Metrology in Car Body Manufacture.
- Volume 5.2: Capability of Measurement Processes for the Torque Inspection on Bolted Joints.
- Volume 6: Quality Audit Fundamentals – Certification requirements for VDA 6.1, VDA 6.2, VDA 6.4 on the basis of ISO 9001.
- Volume 6 / Part 1: QM System Audit based on DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 and
DIN EN ISO 9004.
- Volume 6 / Part 2: QM System Audit – Service.
- Volume 6 / Part 3: Process Audit.
- Volume 6 / Part 4: QM System Audit – Production Equipment.
- Volume 6 / Part 5: Product Audit.
- Volume 6 / Part 7: Process Audit - Production equipment - Product creation process / unit production.
- Volume 7: Exchanging Quality Data.
- Volume 9: Quality Assurance - Emissions and Fuel Consumption - CoP tests on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
- Volume 14: Preventive Quality Management Methods in the Process Landscape.
- Volume 16: Decorative surfaces of external fittings and functional parts in the internal and externals of automobiles.
- Volume 19.1: Inspection of Technical Cleanliness - Particulate Contamination of Functionally Relevant Automotive Components.
- Volume 19.2: Technical cleanliness in assembly - Environment, Logistics, Personnel and Assembly Equipment.
Source: qMindset.com; VDA.de; VDA-QMC.de
Hints
Although the IATF 16949:2016 standard - such as its predecessor
ISO/TS 16949:2009 - and the VDA
quality standards are all automotive specific requirements, the VDA standards (such as 6.1, 6.3, etc.) are favoured among the German supply chain, hence if your company is supplying products to German Tier 1-2
companies or OEMs, you will probably be audited based on VDA requirements (e.g. VDA 6.3 process audit).
The following table lists major VDA quality standards, based on the application, and field category:
| VDA standards |
|
Serial production |
Service |
Production equipment |
| Fundamentals and rules |
VDA 6 |
| System |
VDA 6.1 |
VDA 6.2 |
VDA 6.4 |
| Process |
VDA 6.3 |
VDA 6.7 |
| Product |
VDA 6.5 |
All German OEMs use VDA standards, but there are additional requirements, which vary based on the specific needs of different OEMs.
Despite there are slight differences between the IATF-based IATF 16949 and VDA quality standards, the harmonization was continuous during the past, and the final goal is
always the same: to sustain quality in the manufacturing and service process with consistent effectiveness.
Source: qMindset.com; VDA.de; VDA-QMC.de
Summary
- VDA quality standards are standards and norms created by the VDA QMC (Quality Management Center).
- VDA stands for Verband der Automobilindustrie (German Association of the Automotive Industry).
- QMC is a department of the VDA organization, responsible for quality management.
- Roles and responsibilities of QMC are the development of quality management systems, support of the automotive industry, harmonization of methods with IATF (International Automotive Task Force)
regarding IATF 16949:2016, initiating QM training programs for the sector.
- VDA QMC has created several quality related standards from Volume 1 to Volume 19.2 in close connection to ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949.
- VDA QMC is the German member of IATF (International Automotive Task Force).
Source: qMindset.com; VDA.de; VDA-QMC.de
