QS-9000 is the shorthand name for "Quality System Requirements QS-9000." It is the common supplier quality standard for Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation. QS-9000 is based on the 1994 edition of ISO 9001, but it contains additional requirements that are particular to the automotive industry. These additions are considered automotive "interpretations" by the ISO community of accreditation bodies and registrars. QS-9000 applies to suppliers of production materials, production and service parts, heat treating, painting and plating and other finishing services. It does not, therefore, apply to all suppliers of the Big Three.
Quality System Requirements QS-9000 was developed by Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors to standardize supplier quality systems. It defines the fundamental quality system expectations of those companies, as well as Truck Manufacturers and other subscribing companies for suppliers of production and service parts and materials.
The first step in preparing for QS-9000 registration is to review your existing quality system and compare your current practice with the appropriate QS-9000 standards. This instrument is designed to help you do just that. It covers Section 1, requirements based on ISO 9001 standards as well as requirements specific to the automotive manufacturing industry.
The elements included as a core in each assessment are :
Management Responsibility Quality System Contract Review Design Control Document and Data Control Purchasing Control of Customer Supplied Product Product Identification Process Control Inspection and Testing Control of Inspection Inspection and Test Status Control of Nonconforming Product Corrective and Preventative Action Handling, Storage, Packaging, Preservation, and Delivery Control of Quality Records Internal Quality Audits Training Servicing Statistical Techniques These ready made assessments also enable you to discover the strengths and weaknesses of current or potential suppliers and provide a tool to help you develop more effective relationships with your suppliers.
With the information gathered using this module, you can make more informed, data-based decisions, choose the best supplier for your particular needs, and be confident that your supplier will continue to provide you with what you need.
QS-9000 applies to suppliers of production materials, production and service parts, heat treating, painting and plating and other finishing services. It does not, therefore, apply to all suppliers of the Big Three. Several heavy truck companies have adopted QS-9000 and are signatories to the document. Other companies in the automotive industry are also adopting QS-9000 as their supplier quality requirement, and non-automotive industries are watching the implementation of QS-9000. They are considering using it as a model to develop ISO 9001-based requirements for their industries.
QS-9000 applies to external and internal suppliers of the products and services explained above. An external supplier is a company not owned by the Big Three. This includes most of what is thought of when considering the "supply base." However, many divisions of Big Three companies supply their competitors as well as their own plants. For example, it is not unusual for a Ford plant to sell component products to Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors divisions. In all such cases, these Big Three plants are external suppliers to the other companies and QS-9000 applies to them.
In addition, within the Big Three companies, QS-9000 is being required of many of the internal supplying divisions. The timing requirements for internal divisions are the same as for external suppliers.
QS-9000 is truly a worldwide, common supplier quality requirement for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. It has been released throughout North America, in several countries of South America, and in Europe, and Australia. It will soon be released in the Asian countries and other countries in the world where Big Three suppliers are located.
