VDA vs. IATF 16949: Understanding the Automotive Quality Landscape

With today’s blog post, we are launching an interesting blog series about the useful VDA volumes – both in relation to and as an alternative to IATF 16949:2016.

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) publishes a series of volumes (standards, guidelines etc.) and regulations that serve as standards and guidelines for the automotive industry, both in German-speaking countries and internationally.

These regulations cover various areas, including:

·       Quality management

·       Logistics and supplier management

·       Sustainability and environment

·       Product safety and development

These regulations are essential for many automotive suppliers and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to meet the requirements of automotive manufacturers. Additionally, many of these standards are prerequisites for certifications and audits that automotive manufacturers require of their suppliers.

Figure 1. VDA QM System and QM Process standards (VDA 6.X series)

What is VDA 6.1?

VDA 6.1 is an industry-specific quality management system that goes beyond the requirements of ISO 9001 and defines specific criteria for the automotive industry. It is primarily intended for manufacturers and suppliers that produce series and spare parts for the automotive industry.

The standard evaluates companies using a point-based system and covers various areas, including:

• Leadership & Corporate Strategy – Integrating quality into corporate objectives.
• Product Development – Ensuring quality already at the development phase.
• Supplier Management – Requirements for subcontractors and their quality processes.
• Production – Quality controls, process monitoring, and defect prevention in manufacturing.
• Customer Satisfaction and Continuous Improvement – Focus on reducing defects and customer complaints.

Certification according to VDA 6.1

To obtain VDA 6.1 certification, a company must meet certain criteria, such as an implemented QMS according to ISO 9001, series production, and supplying the automotive industry, among others.

Companies seeking VDA 6.1 certification must undergo an audit. A point-based system is used:

·       90–100% = Certification passed

·       80–89% = Improvement required

·       < 80% = Certification not passed

VDA 6.2 for fabless companies

While there are options like VDA 6.1 or IATF 16949 for production sites, these standards do not apply to fabless companies. In this case, there is an interesting opportunity to certify such companies according to VDA 6.2 – Quality Management for Service Providers in the Automotive Industry.