VDA 6, Part 4
VDA 6, Part 4
VDA Quality Management in automotive industry
QM System Audit, Volume 6, Part 2 “Means of Production” /
2nd edition 2005
Motivation and benefits
As manufacturers of means of production could not be
certified acc. to VDA 6.1, a modification was made in
1999. Based on VDA 6.1, this new standard for the
manufacturers of means of production was created. In
view of TES 9000 (QS-9000 for means of production),
this definitely was a supplement that had been due for a
long time.
Today VDA 6.4 presents itself as an autonomous stan-
dard. At the moment this standard is unique world-wide,
above all as TES 9000 will be dropped in late December
2006.
Furthermore, VDA 6.4 makes it possible to demonstrate
compliance with automotive requirements in areas in
which no certification acc. to ISO/TS 16949 is possible at
the moment. Organizations directly concerned by this
include toolmakers, builders of plants and devices, manu-
facturers of special machinery or of wraparound
packaging.
The document VDA 6.4 basically is a German automotive
standard. For example, many German automobile manu-
facturers review the quality capability of their direct con-
tracting parties on this basis and partly absolutely require
certification.
As the manufacturers of means of production cannot be
certified acc. to ISO/TS 16949:2002, this standard is a
real alternative in evidencing relating to the specifications for
fulfilling the specific requirements throughout the supply chain.
Certification acc. to VDA 6.4 always is a supplement
based on certification acc. to ISO 9001:2000. Among
other things, the new assessment method considers
possible residual risks. Therefore, VDA 6.4 helps to give
expressive statements about the quality of the manage-
ment system (method based on measurement).
Objectives
■ measurement of the efficiency of the organization and
its partial areas
■ strategic business planning and its implementation on
the basis of concrete business plans
■ optimized improvement process
■ secured project management
■ secured production processes, even for single-unit
production or small-scale series
■ sustainable optimization of the customer-supplier rela-
tionship
■ optimizing customer satisfaction
Target groups
■ manufacturers of means of production around auto-
motive industry, e.g. toolmakers, builders of plants
and devices, manufacturers of special machinery or of
wraparound packaging
Criteria
Guidelines of VDA 6, Part 4
The document VDA 6.4 is a technical standard. It was ori-
ginally developed by a workgroup of German automotive
industry while considering the requirements of the docu-
ment VDA 6.1.

In its current version, VDA 6.4 completely follows the
structure of ISO 9001:2000, just like ISO/TS 16949 does.
The contents of the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 have
been fully taken over. The specific additional requirements
are inserted in separate chapters and supplements
directly after the structure of ISO 9001.
In the audit, the individual processes are measured and
assessed for their efficiency, just like before. In this con-
text, this model makes a distinction between ten stan-
dard processes, which are assessed by using an assess-
ment scheme. In order to enable successful completion
in the sense of certification, an overall degree of fulfilment
to the amount of at least 90 % must be achieved.
Thus this method based on measurement considerably
differs from ISO/TS 16949. For here the possible oppor-
tunities for improvement are shown objectively.
Important additional requirements of VDA 6.4 as compa-
red to ISO 9001:2000 include:
■ strategic short-term, medium-term and long-term
business planning
■ designing the process map
■ controlling, financial reporting
■ additional requirements for marketing and sales
■ product development
■ final assembly and acceptance at the customer’s
■ customer support and service
Accreditation
Quality Austria Training, Certification and Evaluation Ltd.
has been accredited for VDA 6.1 by VDA/QMC since
12/1996. For VDA 6.2 and for VDA 6.4, Quality Austria
Training, Certification and Evaluation Ltd. has been accre-
dited since 03/1999. For each standard, Quality Austria
Training, Certification and Evaluation Ltd. is the first
Austrian certification body to be accredited by VDA.
Other relevant standards
various VDA Volumes and the manufacturers’ specifica-
tions, ISO 9001:2000, TS 16949:2002
Quality Austria introduces itself
Quality Austria was founded as a limited company for
VDA 6, Part 4
training, certification and evaluation in 2004. It includes
the four organizations OQS, OVQ, OQA and AFQM and
stands for competence in the fields of quality, environ-
mental and safety management and relating to the indus-
try standards.
Our close relationship with the partner organizations
IQNet, EOQ and EFQM enables the mutual exchange of
topical and global know-how. On a global scale, Quality
Austria cooperates with around 100 member organiza-
tions in almost 50 countries. Thanks to regional manage-
ment, its own offices and exclusive partners, Quality
Austria is also represented onsite in Eastern and South
Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, Asia and South America.
Quality Austria covers the three business areas of certifi-
cation, evaluation and validation, provides training and
individuals’ certification as well as information, expert
knowledge and service. This means that Quality Austria is
a one-stop shop for comprehensive services. More than
500 trainers, auditors and assessors and technical
experts combine know-how specific to standards and
sectors with a significant focus on practical issues. This se-
cures successful implementation within the organization.
Contact
Gerald Perschler
Sector Manager Automotive
gerald.perschler@qualityaustria.com
Quality Austria
Training, Certification and
Evaluation Ltd.
Headquarters
Doc. Nr. RE 24_00_22 e Edition October 2006
Gonzagagasse 1/24
1010 Wien, Austria, Europe
Tel.: (+43 1) 274 87 47
Fax: (+43 1) 274 87 47-100
Customer Service
Am Winterhafen 1/1
4020 Linz, Austria, Europe
Tel.: (+43 732) 34 23 22
Fax: (+43 732) 34 23 23
E-Mail: office@qualityaustria.com
www.qualityaustria.com
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