What must a supplier audit checklist for VDA and ISO 9001 contain?

In a high-stakes field like manufacturing, where every decision has meaningful consequences, quality is more than just a goal —it’s the backbone of operational consistency, efficiency and success. Tools such as supplier audit checklists and VDA and ISO 9001 standards are crucial in helping supplier quality engineers drive excellence in reliability, risk management, and continuous improvement.

Constructing a comprehensive supplier audit checklist requires a deep understanding of these standards, as it must contain key elements to ensure supplier compliance. This post breaks down the essential elements of VDA and ISO 9001 audits. Dive in to learn more!

Why do VDA and ISO 9001 supplier audits matter?

VDA and ISO 9001 are international standards made for quality assurance in organizations and car manufacturing, respectively. While ISO 9001 addresses quality management systems (QMS) as a whole, VDA 6.X standards were specifically developed for the automotive industry by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).

These regulations are the foundation of efficient supplier audits, allowing organizations to verify the reliability and quality of their supply chain, which directly impacts product condition, customer satisfaction, risk exposure, and business success. 

Key considerations for creating a supplier audit checklist

Here you’ll find some of the key elements inside a robust supplier audit checklist, according to VDA and ISO 9001 requirements. The following points focus on providing a structured assessment framework for quality assurance throughout the supply chain.

• Alignment with audit objectives: Tailor your checklist according to the specific objectives and scope defined for the supplier audit at hand. Consider your organization’s goals as well as customer needs and expectations. Clearly define the departments, processes, or products to be evaluated. 

• Consideration of key QMS aspects: These include quality management responsibility review, quality planning analysis, verification of internal quality audits, ensuring proper personnel training, evaluation of financial considerations, and addressing product safety and liability procedures. 

• Process assessment: This covers contract review, analyzing design and development, assessing the supplier’s own supplier management, evaluating production and service provision, verifying inspection, measurement and test equipment accuracy, checking how nonconforming products are dealt with, and evaluating product handling, storage, packaging, preservation and delivery. 

• Identification and mitigation of potential vulnerabilities: Probe the supplier’s processes for vulnerabilities that could compromise quality. Review process flow diagrams, PFMEA, and process control plans. 

• Continuous improvement: Account for current continuous improvement processes as well as identified opportunities for improvement. Evaluate the supplier’s preventive and corrective action (PACA) processes, including root cause analysis (RCA), action plans, and effectiveness checks.

• Documentation control: Verify the supplier’s system for controlling documentation regarding quality management. Review their QMS documentation from policies and procedures to work instructions, to ensure compliance with VDA and ISO standards.

Overall, a comprehensive supplier audit checklist for VDA and ISO 9001 should cover all aspects of the supplier’s quality management system, production processes, product verification and validation, and continuous improvement efforts. 

Manage supplier audits effectively with Kiuey

Having a well-designed supplier audit checklist streamlines and optimizes the process. Dare to drive more efficient audits by implementing digital tools, which enhance data collection, analysis, and integration within the broader QMS. 

Schedule and manage audits in real-time with Kiuey’s Supplier Audits Manager. Discover the future of quality engineering and save time to focus on what really matters. 

Let’s talk to see how we can help transform your quality management operations, one process at a time. Contact us to try a free demo today.