The certification standard VDA 6.1 was first published by VDA in 1996 and has been continuously developed since then. It is aimed specifically at companies that manufacture series parts. It provides the framework for an automotive-specific quality management system, promotes defect prevention, and strengthens reliability and process capability in the value chain. At the same time, the VDA 6.1 standard comprises the quality requirements of most of the German automotive manufacturers and their direct suppliers and is also recognized in France and Italy by those countries’ au-tomotive associations.
The VDA 6.2 certification standard was first published by the VDA in 1997. In 2017 it was updated on the basis of the new DIN EN ISO 9001. It comprises requirements for automotive organizations that provide services in the product life cycle and thus influence the quality of products. Thus, service providers also have the opportunity to achieve certification within the frame-work of an automotive standard. In particular, motor trade organizations as well as many transportation and logistics organizations can now avail themselves of this option to enhance their customer focus on a long-term basis.
Equally, internal service providers, e. g. design and development, logistics, and purchasing, in VDA 6.2 have a valuable instrument at their command for continuous improvement.
In the automotive industry, tools, plants, machines, fixtures, measurement and testing set-ups must meet the highest quality standards. As manufacturers of production resources and plants previously could not be certified to VDA 6.1, a modification took place in 1999 which the VDA published as a further certification standard VDA 6.4. Just like VDA 6.1, VDA 6.4 serves as a supplement to DIN EN ISO 9001 and was fundamentally revised in 2017 on the basis of the new DIN EN ISO 9001. To the present day, VDA 6.4 is the standard of choice for internationally operating manufacturers and suppliers of production resources, as certification to IATF 16949 is not possible.