Before the auditor arrives, it's common to feel nervous and scramble to finalize documents and close open tasks. Often, no matter how much you prepare, it feels like something’s still missing.

It’s not unusual for Tier 1 suppliers to face critical findings in their first VDA 6.3 audits — especially in areas like process development (P3) and series production (P6). These issues often arise when the connection between risk analysis, controls, and corrective actions isn't demonstrated, or when the documentation exists but isn’t reflected in daily operations.

This isn’t just about highlighting the problem — it’s about understanding what’s going wrong and how to prepare effectively to avoid missteps that could remove you from the approved supplier list.

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Common Mistakes That Jeopardize Your VDA 6.3 Audit — and How to Avoid Them

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From Passing to Standing Out: A Change in Perspective

A VDA 6.3 audit isn’t a memory test — it’s an X-ray of your quality management in action. The difference between surviving as a supplier and standing out lies in having a technical partner like PTI QCS that understands quality from the ground up.

Partnering with PTI QCS Means Being Audit-Ready

At PTI QCS, we help you make sure your quality doesn’t just exist on paper — it’s visible in every stage of your process. From mock audits and technical support to inspection and certified rework, we’re by your side so your operation meets — and exceeds — VDA 6.3 standards.

Contact us at janava@ptiqcs.com for Mexico and at sales@ptiqcs.com for the U.S. or Canada.

So next time you're asked if you're ready for VDA 6.3, you can confidently reply: “More than ready — we operate above the standard.”

VDA 6.3: An Assessment of Operational Maturity

This German standard, increasingly required by major OEMs like Volkswagen, Audi, and BMW, goes beyond verifying requirements. It evaluates how your processes function, how robust they are, and whether a preventive system is in place to avoid failures before they happen.

That’s why having a signed FMEA or control plan isn’t enough — you must show that these are living documents, integrated into daily operations and directly tied to identified and managed risks.

The Most Common Mistakes Leading to Critical Non-Conformities

Lack of Traceability Between Risk Analysis and Controls: Having standalone documents with no practical link between failure modes, causes, controls, and corrective actions is a recurring issue.
Hollow Evidence: Signatures and records may exist, but when the auditor asks for real examples or concrete cases, there are no clear, verifiable answers.
Incorrect Calculation and Review of the RPN (Risk Priority Number): It may seem basic, but many suppliers mishandle risk scoring, failing to update values after engineering changes.
Weak Production and Series Process Monitoring (P5 & P6): This is where 75% of critical findings happen, due to ineffective systems for real-time detection and reaction to deviations.
Underestimating the Commercial Impact of the Final Score: Scoring below 90 (Grade C) can lead to immediate disqualification with no chance for appeal.

How to Prepare Smartly for the Audit

Run mock audits with certified experts

Using the official checklist and scoring system in a pre-audit significantly increases your chances of achieving Grade A in the official evaluation.
Master the specific questions per section

For example:

P2: How do you manage your key suppliers?
P3: How do you ensure product maturity before launch?
P5: What validations are applied in the process?
P6: How do you detect and correct production deviations?
Show operational maturity — not just paperwork

Success lies in trend analysis, integrating quality and production data, and fostering true process ownership on the shop floor. If your operators don’t know how to respond to a deviation, your risk grows.