VDA 6.3 Process Audit Standard | Requirements & Benefits

Author: Maren Fichtner | October 8, 2026

Definition: What is VDA 6.3?

VDA 6.3 is a process audit standard developed by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). It does not evaluate a company’s quality management system as a whole, but rather the specific capabilities of individual manufacturing and development processes along the entire value chain – from project planning and product development to series production and supplier selection.

Publisher: German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)

Current edition: VDA 6.3:2023

Who is VDA 6.3 intended for?

The standard is intended for automotive manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers that manufacture in Germany or for the German market. It is frequently requested directly by customers as a second-party audit – often in addition to existing IATF 16949 certification, particularly for new product launches, in response to complaints, or as a prerequisite for supplier approval.

Overview of core requirements

Process-oriented approach: evaluation based on seven process elements (P1–P7), from potential analysis to customer service
Point-based scoring: each audit question is scored with 0, 6, 8, or 10 points
Level of compliance: classification of the process into category A, B, or C
Action management: documented corrective actions for nonconformities with deadline tracking
Turtle diagram: structured process analysis (input, output, methods, resources, personnel, key performance indicators)
Supplier management: a separate process element (P2) for evaluating the subcontractor chain

Difference from IATF 16949

IATF 16949 certifies a company’s quality management system at the system level and is issued by an accredited certification body. VDA 6.3, on the other hand, evaluates specific, individual processes using a quantitative scoring system and is usually conducted by the customer itself or on its behalf. The two standards are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary: IATF 16949 forms the system foundation, while VDA 6.3 provides the more in-depth process evaluation that German OEMs often require in addition.

Consequences of noncompliance

A VDA 6.3 audit resulting in a Category C rating (“unsatisfactory”) directly jeopardizes the award of a contract or an ongoing supply relationship. For new production runs, a poor result can delay the start of production or completely block the approval of a component until proven corrective actions have been implemented.

Frequently asked questions about VDA 6.3

Is VDA 6.3 required by law?

No. This is a contractual requirement from customers, not a legal obligation.

What is the difference between VDA 6.3 and IATF 16949?

IATF 16949 certifies the entire quality management system, while VDA 6.3 evaluates individual processes using a specific scoring system.

How is a VDA 6.3 audit evaluated?

Using a point scale (0, 6, 8, 10) for each question, which results in a degree of compliance and a classification into Category A, B, or C.

Who conducts the audits?

Certified VDA 6.3 auditors, either on behalf of a client or as an internal auditor.

Successfully implementing VDA 6.3

The most time-consuming part of VDA 6.3 audits is preparing the process documentation: control plans, test reports, training records, and traceability data must be available in their entirety for each process element. Connected worker platforms like weasl automatically capture this documentation during each work step and compile it in a format ready for audit. This significantly shortens the audit preparation time.

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VDA 6.3