What is VDA 6.3?
VDA 6.3 is a model for process audit structured in questionnaire format with process elements from P2 to P7 with a scoring approach for the audit result. The complete title for VDA 6.3 is listed below :
Volume 6 Part 3 Process Audit. Potential Analysis, Product and Production Process Development, Product and Production Process Implementation, Series Production.
How old is VDA 6.3?
VDA 6.3 was first published in year 1998. It was revised in year 2010 (2nd edition), and year 2016 (3rd edition) respectively. This makes the year 2023 publication the 4th edition. VDA 6.3 is a model used for process audit. But this is not to be confused with manufacturing process audit (MPA).
Is VDA 6.3 the same as manufacturing process audit?
No. They are not the same.
The scope for conventional manufacturing process audit is from first process to the last process of manufacturing flow.. MPA only applies after mass production has started.
The scope for process audit based on VDA 6.3 covers both the new product development cycle and mass production cycle. It is also used for assessing potential supplier for qualification, known as “potential analysis’ in the VDA 6.3 model.
What are the key changes for 2023 compared with 2016 edition?
- Software aspects have been taken into consideration in the questionnaire
- Harmonization of content, especially with VDA methods Automotive SPICE® and VDA MLA
- Requirements with regard to purchasing activities were added to P3 and P4
- Specification of the auditor qualification
- Notes on conducting remote audits were added
- Chapter 4 (“Audit process”) was deleted, as its contents are included in ISO 19011
- Questions with special significance (marked with an asterisk *) were reassigned
- Questions regarding the potential analysis were partially reallocated
- Glossary transferred to VDA QMC online glossary
What has remained the same?
- The structure of the questionnaire
- The classification system (A, B, C) for the overall assessment
- The evaluation model for the individual questions (10-8-6-4-0)
- The applicability of process elements P2–P7
- Use of Turtle Model
- Previous downgrading rules
Where can I get a copy of the VDA 6.3?
At the time of writing, the VDA6.3 is only available in hardcopy. One is normal bind and the other is wire-o-ring bind. We recommend the wire-o-ring version as it is easier to turn pages and enable ‘open-flat’ reading on the table.
It is available via VDA and SMMT webshops. The links are listed below.
https://webshop.vda.de/QMC/de/volume-06-part-03-edition-2023_en