Interpret VDA 6.3 audit requirements for advanced supplier qualification

For SQEs it’s crucial to understand that a VDA 6.3 audit serves a fundamentally different purpose than the familiar IATF 16949 system audit. While IATF 16949 focuses on the broad “what” of a quality management system, VDA 6.3 dives into the “how” of specific production processes. In other words, it shifts the focus from administrative compliance to technical process capability and product implementation. 

Successfully navigating these VDA audits is often the difference between a seamless launch and the start of a reactive cycle of firefighting. Understand its specific requirements and learn how to treat VDA 6.3 audits as a proactive tool for risk mitigation in this article.  

Translating the Potential Analysis (P1) into actionable risk

The Potential Analysis (P1) serves as the primary gatekeeper in the VDA 6.3 framework, designed to evaluate a supplier’s capability to meet requirements before a contract is even signed. The evaluation begins by clarifying the initial situation and reviewing a supplier’s internal self-assessment. From there, the SQE must compile a specific VDA process audit checklist that draws elements from P2 through P7 to evaluate a comparable existing production line. This includes assessing Project Management (P2) for structured planning and Product/Process Development (P3/P4) for feasibility and design FMEA. 

The VDA 6.3 audit also integrates Supplier Management (P5) to ensure quality throughout the sub-supply chain and Serial Production (P6) for process stability. Finally, it examines Customer Satisfaction (P7) to evaluate past performance in delivery and complaint handling. If a supplier cannot demonstrate risk mitigation or feasibility studies at this early stage, the P1 analysis filters them out of the supply chain.

Interpreting the final rating and next steps

The final rating in VDA 6.3 dictates the SQE’s immediate strategy and can often feel like a systemic SCAR (Supplier Corrective Action Report). This rating represents a formal risk assessment where even a high percentage can be downgraded if a critical “*-question” (special risk question) fails. It uses a traffic light grading: 

• Green indicates a fully approved supplier capable of meeting requirements.
• Yellow signifies a conditionally approved supplier, who requires significant SQE support or volume restrictions.
• Red denotes a barred supplier where contract award is excluded.

In practice, for the SQE, forcing a Yellow supplier to fix their processes is a high-stress endeavor that requires intense follow-up activities and mandatory action plans. This creates an environment where collaboration is key for achieving excellence. 

Centralizing Your VDA Strategy with Kiuey

Managing the complex documentation and real-time follow-ups required by VDA 6.3 can easily overwhelm manual spreadsheets and email chains. Kiuey’s Supplier Audit Manager provides a centralized single source of truth for your audit findings, allowing you to schedule, execute, and track corrective actions in real time. 

Instead of chasing suppliers for information, our platform automates notifications and connects findings directly to SCAR/CAPA modules to ensure a closed-loop resolution. Would you like to transform your audit process from a reactive stressor into a strategic edge? Schedule a free demo and learn more about our Supplier Audits Manager today.