What is VDA6.3?

VDA stands for Verband der Automobilindustrie. VDA 6.3 defines a process-
based audit standard for evaluating and improving controls in a
manufacturing organization’s new product introduction and manufacturing
processes. VDA 6.3 caters to the automotive industries originating in
Germany and the requirements of the German automotive companies are
unique and complex. They have similarities with other automotive standards
but not in its entirety.

In the present day’s race to out beat others, the time required between
concept to manufacturing has become very short hence the demand for
adherence to the standard has increased. The German auto mobile industry
has made it mandatory that Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers to them must comply
with and get certified to VDA.

VDA 6.3 defines a process based audit standard for evaluating and
improving controls in a manufacturing organization’s new product
introduction and manufacturing processes. The standard was
comprehensively restructured in 2010 to reflect the changes to ISO 9001
and customer specific requirements in the automotive industry. Passing the
VDA 6.3 audit allows your company to become a potential supplier to
German automakers.

Some of the Requirements to Pass the VDA 6.3 Audit are:

The requirements for the VDA 6.3 certification touches on the

necessary sectors of the production.

 IATF 16949: 2016 or VDA 6.1

 Assessment of product suitability according to Formula Q-capability/Q-
capability software.
 Internal Audits according to IATF 16949:2016 Formula Q-capability, or KVP
Continual Improvement Process.
 Self-assessment at least once annually according to Q-capability
with documentation.
 Ensure that all risks in the supply chain are clearly identified and
systematic measures are implemented
They include among others the following important areas:

 Documentation on the development of effective production systems in

automobile manufacturing and procedures of supply and distribution.
 Quality assurance measures and responsibility of Automobile
manufacturers for supply.
 Informative and well-experienced staff and employees in the organization.
The few requirements of the VDA 6.3 certification have all translated into
very fruitful benefits. Internationally binding benchmarks and have
presented the initiative for companies in the automobile sectors towards
quality management practices.

VDA 6.3 follows a scoring system, with a provision for automatic

disqualification if minimum requirements are not met in process control
activities.

Who Should Get VDA 6.3 Certification

 All facilities engaged in the production of parts for automobile industry
require an Automotive Quality Management System (AQMS) for
VDA6.3 certification.  Developing a comprehensive system to meet all
the requirements of VDA 6.3 for effective implementation to achieve
desired results, a competent VDA 6.3 consulting company or a
competent VDA6.3 consultant is essential
 Any facility that wants a robust system and ability to produce quality
products and ensure safety for consumers must get VDA6.3Certification
  VDA6.3 consulting companies prepare required AQMS to comply with all
customers and regulatory requirements and the organization can
demonstrate. Any company using this assistance can build a world class
German automotive part manufacturing company and go in for VDA6.3
certification
 VDA 6.3 is a mandatory requirement for primary Tier 1 and Tier 2
Suppliers of German Automotive products. Hence all Tier 1 and Tier 2
companies must get VDA6.3certification and pave way for continual
improvement in any facility
 VDA6.3certification can be overwhelming at times but a competent
VDA6.3consulting company or VDA6.3 consultant can provide detailed
explanation on the intent of the standard while developing an VDA6.3
compliant German Automotive Quality Management System(AQMS) and
any company can go in for VDA6.3certification with such help
 A comprehensive AQMS can create confidence in end users, German
government, statutory and regulatory agencies and provide answers to
all questions from Regulatory and Certification Body Auditors. Any
company seeking customer confidence must get iATF16949 certification
 An VDA6.3 consulting firm provides the techniques for developing and
implementing the AQMS
 A consulting firm can provide internal auditing services to effectively
conduct VDA6.3conformity audits to fully prepare for VDA6.3 certification
audits to ensure implementation

Process of getting VDA 6.3 Certification

 Process of VDA certification starts with preparation of an Automotive
Quality Management System (AQMS) suitable to VDA6.3 standard
 Once AQMS is ready a thorough VDA 6.3 Gap analysis using VDA 6.3
Process audit checklists is to be conducted to find what is lacking for
VDA6.3 certification and what is the score attainable at that time
 ISO Consultants assist in developing a comprehensive, AQMS to meet
all requirements of VDA 6.3and third party Certification Body stage 1
audit requirements. The stage 1 audit from Certification Bodies vary
depending on the selected IATF Certification Body which verifies the
documented system meeting all VDA 6.3requirements or not
 A VDA 6.3 consulting firm provides the techniques for implementation,
and trains organization’s VDA 6.3 internal auditors to become competent
to perform internal audits using VDA6.3 process audit checklists or
provides VA 6.3 Internal Auditing Services to audit all processes, all
VDA 6.3 Standard requirements using VDA 6.3 process audit checklists
and examine effective implementation of VDA 6.3 Standard
 Developing a comprehensive system to meet all the VDA 6.3 process
audit requirements for effective implementation to achieve desired
results, a competent VDA 6.3 consulting  company or a competent
VDA 6.3 consultant is essential
 AQMS as per VDA 6.3 standard can assure German automotive
manufacturers that the facility has a robust system and can produce
quality products and services
 3 process audits conducted and a substantially high score is
mandatory requirement for Tier1 and Tier 2 suppliers catering to
German Automobile Industry. Therefore VDA 6.3 certification
seeking facilities must learn the process approach the right way
 VDA 6.3 certification seeking Facilities need to initiate corrective actions
and witness that continual improvement is realized through control of
nonconforming products/services.
 VDA 6.3 certification seeking facilities need to implement the prepared
AQMS for a minimum of 3 months and gather adequate data and record
to show as evidence when seeking VDA 6.3certification
 Managements of the VDA 6.3certification seeking facilities need to
conduct one full scale review of the entire AQMS and ensure its
adequacy for their organization. Management Team needs to identify
Action items to make corrections to any IATF requirement not being
fulfilled
 Once a AQMS is ready, VDA 6.3 Internal audit is performed and one full
set of Management review takes place, the facility needs to contact a
certification Body for certification audit
 Certification Bodies conduct VDA 6.3 Audit in 2 stages. During Stage 1,
VDA 6.3 audit evaluates the documentation system and basic
requirements of meeting VDA 6.3 Requirements
 Certification Body returns for final audit where all VDA 6.3 Requirements
are thoroughly audited to ensure that requirements are met and
documentary evidence exists to demonstrate compliance
 Once certification Body is satisfied, recommendation is sent to
accrediting agencies to issue VDA 6.3 certification
Benefits of Having an AQMS:
 VDA 6.3 certification provides international recognition and approval in
the manufacturing and supply of parts for automobiles.
 VDA 6.3 process audit Creates a standardized sector rational to
measure the effective capacity of industry players to produce high
quality products that are secure for supply.
 VDA 6.3 process audit Promotes consistency in effective management in
the Automobile sector to ensure quality production is maintained at all
stages to the letter.
 VDA 6.3 process audit is informative in modern production practices that
are cost effective and risk mitigated.
 VDA 6.3 process audit helps validate AQMS and give the ability to
supply to German automakers
 VDA 6.3 standard mandates maintaining higher quality standards even
higher than IATF 16949:2016
 VDA 6.3 Standard helps in Process control in every process resulting in
Increased quality of your products
 VDA 6.3 Standard Presents a simple and singular management strategy
that covers a multi-dimensional organization to guarantee safe quality
production and supply.
 VDA6.3 certification is a great marketing tool for selling in German
Automotive Industry

QSE Difference in VDA6.3 Training, Audit & Consulting

Services:
 QSE has over 27 Years of standing in the field of VDA6.3 Consulting,
Auditing and Training for any ISO Standard, Automotive standard Sector
Specific Standard, AISC standard or Food Safety Standard
 QSE has helped over 700 facilities to earn their ISO certifications, VDA
6.3 and other certifications. All QSE customers pass final audits with no
or minimal nonconformities
 Over 98 % of QSE customers passed VDA6.3 certification audits with no
nonconformities first time around
 Unlike our competitors QSE ‘s VDA 6.3 consultants provide a unique,
comprehensive, evidence based simplified single level system which is
easy to implement and provide evidence for implementation to earn VDA
6.3 certification
 VDA 6.3 Templates designed by QSE are tried and tested. They are
perfect. Facilities using the documentation developed by QSE do not
have to struggle for evidence
 Evidence is built in to the system. The facility needs to only follow the
given VDA6.3 Standard formats, and tables to sail through a certification
audit with a high score or with minimal nonconformities
 QSE engages all competent auditors to conduct internal audits or
suppler audits.
 President of QSE is a member of the technical committee involved in
writing ISO 19011, the guidance standard for audits since its inception in
1985 to recent changes in 2018
 At the end of an Internal audit QSE submits a detailed report which
assists the facilities in building corrective actions and prevent actions to
avoid possible nonconformities and helps to undertake preventive
actions to avoid occurrence of any nonconformity
 Several of our competitors engage in VDA process audits through VDA
6.3 Audit Process checklists. QSE performs audits by VDA6.3 process
audit checklist, and gathers evidence covering all requirements of
VDA6.3 standards clause by clause
 QSE has system designed to fix process controls in the system which
ensure high scores during VDA 6.3 Audit
 QSE has designed unique comprehensive single level documentation
which ensure effective implementation of VDA 6.3 standard
 QSE helps create all 19 required documented processes as per VDA 6.3
Standard and other requirements covered in VDA 6.1which is mandatory
 QSE’s consultants provide VDA 6.3 standard documentation that is
unique, simple, lean and easy to implement and sustain certification
 QSE ensures to provide implementation assistance or complete
understanding of the documentation and requirements of VDA 6.3
process audit.
 QSE includes all 4 stages of quality control viz. Receiving, Setup, In-
process and Final release and ensures that they are built in the system
for effective control mechanism
 QSE’s Unique Management review format ensures that facilities
implement methods to verify the adequacy of AQMS. This helps to
eliminate all probable nonconformities on Management Review
 The review techniques of AQMS help make corrections in the system
where required and ensures continual improvement
 QSE does not simply tell what needs to be done instead QSE holds the
hand of the facility and show how to do it
 QSE’s 10 step disciplined path is insensitive to failure and facilities are
guaranteed to obtain certification when all 10 steps are implemented.
 QSE provides post VDA63. Process audit services, if required, and can
take the disputes to highest levels.