What is VDA 6.3?

VDA 6.3 is one of the quality management systems standards developed by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (Verband de Automobilindustie – VDA). For Quality Engineers, QA Managers, and Lead Auditors working in the automotive supply chain, understanding VDA 6.3 is essential. Specifically, it helps maintain supplier approval status and ensures process-level quality compliance. 

VDA QMC aims to promote and improve quality management in the German auto industry. Ultimately, it ensures ongoing compliance with the requirements of the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) and the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG). To that end, VDA QMC expanded on the requirements specified in ISO 9001 and the IATF’s IATF 16949:2016 Quality Management System standard. ISO 9001 is suitable for any organization, while IATF 16949 is specific to the automotive industry. As a result, VDA QMC established the VDA 6.x series of standards for the German automotive industry.

How Does VDA 6.3 Relate to the VDA 6.x Series of Standards?

In essence, the VDA 6.x series is a quality management system standard for the automotive industry and its supply chain. It consists of 6 parts:

VDA 6.1:2016 – QM System Audit – Serial Production specifically supports 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party internal quality system audits for companies that primarily produce tangible products.

Similarly, VDA 6.2: 2017 – QM System Audit – Service relates to the design and implementation of a QM system for service organizations.

VDA 6.3:2016 – Process Audit evaluates and improves controls in process elements of the automotive manufacturing process. In particular, Quality Engineers and process auditors most frequently encounter this standard during supplier assessments and internal process reviews.

Moreover, VDA 6.4: 2017 – QM System Audit – Production Equipment assesses the quality of production tools, machines, and equipment supplied to and used in the automotive industry. Additionally, auditors use it to evaluate the relationship between equipment suppliers and their automotive industry customers.

VDA 6.5:2020 – Product Audit – Guidelines determine the effectiveness of quality assurance and the capability of the production process through the examination of products and/or parts. Specifically, this section verifies whether a product complies with the given specifications and/or special customer/supplier agreements.

What Does VDA 6.3 Cover?

VDA 6.3 is a guide for auditors that outlines the certification requirements for process-based audits. Moreover, it provides requirements for evaluating controls in the manufacturing process. The internal analysis process focuses on customer satisfaction with customer-specific requirements. As such, the standard outlines the relevance and importance of

• audit scope
• audit phases
• audit process
• criteria for evaluation of the process audit
• audit results
• and the requirements of the set process.

The standard correlates to the process audit requirements stipulated by ISO 19011 and IATF 16949:2016 Part 1. Additionally, it will typically employ potential analysis and failure mode effects analysis (fmea).

VDA 6.3 applies to automotive manufacturers and their suppliers. Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers of products to German automobile manufacturers must obtain certification. Similarly, the OEM supply chain in the German auto manufacturing industry requires it. Consequently, it serves as a key tool for supplier management in the industry.

The VDA 6.3 certification audit uses a scoring system with automatic disqualification for certain nonconformities. Furthermore, auditors disqualify suppliers when they do not meet minimum requirements in the production process.

To become a certified VDA 6.3 auditor, an auditor must complete VDA 6.3-specific auditor training. Additionally, they must meet the strict auditor qualifications.

The Role of Quality Engineers in VDA 6.3 Audits

Quality Engineers play a central role in both preparing for and executing VDA 6.3 process audits. During preparation, Quality Engineers ensure that process documentation is current. In addition, they align control plans with customer-specific requirements and validate measurement systems. During the audit itself, Quality Engineers often serve as process owners. In this role, they walk auditors through production workflows, demonstrate process controls, and provide evidence of compliance. Consequently, their involvement is critical to achieving a successful audit outcome.

For QA Managers overseeing multiple production lines or sites, VDA 6.3 audit results provide valuable benchmarking data on process maturity across the organization. The scoring methodology rates process elements on a scale and flags critical non-conformities for automatic downgrade. Therefore, it gives quality leaders a quantitative basis for prioritizing improvement efforts. Most importantly, it helps allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact on quality KPIs such as non-conformance rates and First Pass Yield (FPY).

Tools for Conducting Process Audits

Product quality and compliance with quality management system standards are necessary for the manufacturing industry. However, they are especially critical in the automotive sector. Indeed, regular, planned, and in-depth process audits ensure this quality and compliance.

VDA 6.3 is widely recognized as a preferred manufacturing process audit standard. Using software solutions to aid process auditors and internal audits can significantly improve process control, product quality, QMS compliance, and ongoing certification. Furthermore, digital audit platforms help quality teams move beyond paper-based audit checklists to centralized systems. These systems support cross-site comparability, automated corrective action tracking, and real-time visibility into audit completion rates. As a result, they directly address the audit fatigue that many Quality Supervisors and Lead Auditors experience when managing high-volume audit programs.

Solutions for VDA 6.3 process audits should provide the tools to:

• Define audit scope
• Define audit phases
• Define audit processes, process elements, and questionnaires, and
• Establish the criteria for evaluating audit results and the requirements of the processes

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Software solutions for VDA 6.3 Auditing

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between VDA 6.3 and IATF 16949?

IATF 16949 is a comprehensive quality management system standard for the entire automotive supply chain. Specifically, it builds on ISO 9001 with automotive-specific requirements. VDA 6.3, in contrast, is a process audit standard that focuses specifically on evaluating controls within individual manufacturing and service processes. While IATF 16949 addresses the overall QMS, VDA 6.3 provides a detailed methodology for auditing process elements such as planning, execution, and customer satisfaction. Indeed, many automotive suppliers must comply with both standards.

Who needs VDA 6.3 certification?

Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers to German automotive OEMs such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche must obtain VDA 6.3 certification. Similarly, non-German OEMs that source from the European automotive supply chain also increasingly require it. Therefore, Quality Managers and QA Directors at supplier organizations should confirm certification requirements with each OEM customer. Above all, failure to achieve or maintain VDA 6.3 compliance can result in loss of approved supplier status.

How is the VDA 6.3 audit scored?

VDA 6.3 uses a structured scoring system where auditors rate each process element on a scale from 0 (requirement not met) to 10 (requirement fully met). Auditors then aggregate scores into an overall compliance percentage. Results fall into three categories: A (at least 90%), B (80-90%), or C (below 80%). However, certain critical non-conformities trigger automatic downgrades regardless of the overall score. For this reason, Quality Engineers should pay particular attention to these critical elements during audit preparation. Above all, a single failure can override otherwise strong performance.

How often should VDA 6.3 process audits be conducted?

The frequency of VDA 6.3 audits depends on the organization’s risk profile, customer requirements, and previous audit results. For instance, many automotive OEMs require annual process audits of their key suppliers. In addition, significant process changes, new product launches, or quality incidents can trigger additional audits. Internally, QA Managers should therefore establish a risk-based audit schedule. This schedule should balance thorough coverage with the need to avoid audit fatigue among production and quality teams.

Can digital audit tools help with VDA 6.3 compliance?

Yes. Digital audit management platforms streamline VDA 6.3 compliance by providing standardized audit templates, automated scoring calculations, centralized evidence collection, and integrated corrective action tracking. For Quality Directors overseeing multiple sites, digital tools enable cross-site comparability of audit results. This makes it easier to identify systemic process weaknesses and track improvement trends. Moreover, it replaces the manual, paper-based approach that many organizations still rely on. Consequently, it significantly reduces the administrative burden on Lead Auditors and Quality Engineers.