Why Is the Quality Manager Not the Only Person Responsible for Quality?
A customer complaint arrives. Process performance falls below target. An audit identifies a nonconformity. In many organizations, everyone immediately turns to the Quality…
You Found the Gaps – How to Turn Audit Findings into Everyday Readiness
The audit is over. Your organization has received the report, and the findings have been entered into a tracker with owners and deadlines….
The Most Common Gaps Before an Audit – and Why They Do Not Start in the Quality Department
When an external audit – such as a customer or certification audit – is approaching, many organizations activate the same mechanism. The quality…
Audit Readiness – How to Identify Gaps Before the Auditor Does
Audit readiness often becomes a priority only when the audit date is already approaching. Suddenly, the FMEA needs updating. Someone starts checking for…
Project Management According to VDA MLA – How to Manage Risk, Quality, and Customer Trust
VDA MLA addresses a challenge many Quality Managers and project leaders in the automotive industry know too well: “We passed the customer project…
CQI Special Processes – How to Effectively Implement AIAG Assessments?
In many automotive organizations, IATF requirements related to manufacturing process audits and CSR expectations, as well as AIAG CQI special processes guidelines, exist…
VDA Field Failure Analysis – How to Analyze Defective Parts from the Market?
VDA Field Failure Analysis is a solution for: when a “broken” part turns out to be fine.Every driver knows this scenario: something rattles,…
VDA 6.8 – Supply Chain Process Audit
In May 2024, the new standard VDA 6.8 – Supply Chain Process Audit was introduced. Developed by the German Association of the Automotive…
Human Error – Better to Discipline Staff or Improve the System?
Human error is a frequently cited cause of problems in quality management but is rarely understood in depth. Too often, problem-solving teams focus…
Control Plan
“A control plan is a critical document used in manufacturing to ensure product quality and consistency.” …according to Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)….
Control Charts
Control charts are one of the key tools of statistical process control (SPC), which allows monitoring the stability and capability of production processes….
Problem Solving Methods – Review of 8D, QRQC and A3
In 2024, the automotive industry’s #1 nonconformity (due to its frequency) in third-party IATF 16949 audits was problem solving. It can therefore be…