German Association of the Automotive Industry has published a new auditing standard for logistics – VDA 6.8 Process Audit Supply Chain

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has published a new auditing standard for logistics across the automotive supply chain which it said will reduce risk and cost by optimising processes. 

VDA 6.8 Process Audit Supply Chain has been drawn up by experts in logistics and quality from vehicle manufacturers, tier suppliers and logistics service providers. Working together they have combined the strengths of the existing standards for evaluating processes GMMOG/LE and the existing VDA 6.3 standards, and integrated additional topics such as information security, according to the VDA.

The new standard includes supply chain considerations from the early project and planning phase, through supplier and service provider management and procurement, to transport and in-house logistics, and customer management.

The VDA said that after the publication of the final version of the standard the Quality Management Center (QMC) at the VDA will offer appropriate training and examinations to qualify future VDA 6.8 auditors.

“For the first time, the VDA QMC is publishing a recommendation on the subject of the value chain, and this already has the potential to set standards worldwide, as Volume 6.3 did this before,” said VDA managing director, Jügen Mindel. “Volume 6.8 takes the audit from the factory floor to the road, rail and warehouse. It represents a milestone in terms of robust supply chains, standardisation of processes and risk reduction in the value chain.” 

The VDA’s Logistics Committee chairman, Simon Motter, who is head of Volkswagen Group Logistics, said the new auditing standard addresses the importance of smooth supply chain processes for the entire automotive industry. “With the overarching industry standard, all process partners are for the first time given a set of rules to align and optimise their logistics processes with the necessary minimum requirements,” he said. Earlier this year Motter told Automotive Logistics about how VW Group Logistics is collaborating closely with manufacturing and procurement teams to keep delivery and production stable, and build supply chain resiliency against disruption.

*In its most recent production report the VDA said that more EVs were produced in Germany in October than in any previous month, with 143,200 manufactured, 38% more than in the same month last year. The figures showed that 109,400 battery EVs (BEVs) and 33,800 plug-in hybrids (Phevs) rolled off the assembly lines at production facilities in Germany. This means that BEV production increased by 54% compared to the same month last year, and Phev production by 4%. The share of EVs in total production was 38% in October, also higher than ever before. The VDA said that overall, 5% more EVs were produced in the first 11 months of this year than in the previous year (1.1m units). This contrasts with year-to-date market volume for BEVs across Europe in October, which was shown to be 5.8% lower than the same period in 2023, driven in large part by a substantial decrease in Germany (-28.6%), according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).