VDA 6.3 Process Auditing at FormFab

VDA 6.3 is a process audit standard developed by the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) and used throughout the global automotive supply chain. Where a quality management system standard evaluates an organization's overall systems and policies, VDA 6.3 drills into individual manufacturing processes to assess whether the right controls, resources, and methods are in place to produce conforming products consistently.

For automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, VDA 6.3 is one of the most direct tools available for evaluating a supplier's process capability. Passing a customer-conducted VDA 6.3 audit is typically a prerequisite for earning and maintaining approved supplier status.

Stronger Processes. Stronger Performance. Stronger Together.

Applying VDA 6.3 principles across our operations delivers consistent benefits for our team and for the customers we serve:

• Identify and Manage Risks: Proactively detect risks within production processes and address them before they impact delivery or quality.
• Standardize Processes: Maintain robust, repeatable, and documented processes across every operation and workstation.
• Strengthen People and Culture: Engage and empower team members to take ownership of their processes and drive process excellence.
• Support Continuous Improvement: Use audit findings, process data, and customer feedback to deliver sustained performance improvements.
• Improve Customer Relationships: Consistently meet customer requirements, reduce corrective action requests, and build long-term supplier confidence.
• Enhance Process Quality: Identify gaps in process controls and strengthen them to deliver reliable, conforming products on every order.

As an IATF 16949:2016 certified precision tube fabricator, FormFab operates in an environment where process discipline is a baseline expectation. VDA 6.3 principles guide how we plan, control, and evaluate the specific processes our automotive customers depend on, including:

• Bending process setup and verification
• Dimensional inspection and gauging controls
• Material traceability and incoming supplier management
• Tooling qualification and maintenance
• First article and PPAP documentation
• Production launch planning and readiness

By addressing process effectiveness at every stage rather than relying solely on end-of-line inspection, we work to prevent issues before they reach our customers.