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Credential renewal extension as a COVID-19 VDA 6.3 certified process auditor


Auditor certificates or credentials issued by VDA QMC and its licensees are valid for three years, so auditors must apply for renewal or requalification before the expiration date. To maintain the qualification as an auditor, you must have a regular performance in conducting audits, participating in additional training or examinations.

This procedure affects certificates and credentials issued by QMC VDAs directly or by their licensees for the topics of “VDA 6.3 - Process Audit in the Product Lifecycle” and IATF 16949 Quality Management Standard (Part 1). In both cases, a certain number of audits in companies (not Remote Audits) must be evidenced to maintain the rating.

For initial qualifications, renewals and requalifications, Remote Audits will not be accepted. Additionally, subsequent trainings or exams may have to be completed in person.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several measures are being taken to slow the spread of the virus. These include, for example, travel restrictions by companies or cancellation of training. To support auditors in this situation, VDA QMC establishes the following special regulation:

- Auditors who are unable to provide the necessary evidence to maintain their ratings by the end of the second half of 2020 due to the current situation, will be provided an extension until the end of the first quarter of 2021.

- Using a copy of the official VDA QMC letter, it can be demonstrated that certificates in VDA 6.3 and IATF 16949 (Part 1) that have an expiration date of December 31, 2020 will remain valid until March 31, 2021.

This special regulation is valid immediately and will be implemented worldwide to all regions of the QMC VDA licensee network. VDA-QMC will continue to monitor the global situation and depending on the evolution of the spread of COVID-19, additional measures may be initiated.


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Credential renewal extension as a systems auditor IATF16949:2016 due to COVID-19


Auditor certificates or credentials issued by VDA QMC and its licensees are valid for three years, so auditors must apply for renewal or requalification before the expiration date. To maintain qualification as an auditor, regular performance in conducting audits as well as participation in additional training or examinations are usually necessary.

This procedure affects certificates and credentials issued by QMC VDAs directly or by their licensees for the topics of “VDA 6.3 - Process Audit in the Product Lifecycle” and IATF 16949 Quality Management Standard (Part 1). In both cases, a certain number of audits in companies (not Remote Audits) must be evidenced to maintain the rating.

For initial qualifications, renewals and requalifications, Remote Audits will not be accepted. Additionally, subsequent trainings or exams may have to be completed in person.

Debido a la pandemia del COVID-19, varias medidas se están tomando para disminuir la propagación del virus. Éstas incluyen, por ejemplo, restricciones de viajes por las empresas o la cancelación a entrenamientos.

To support auditors in this situation, VDA QMC establishes the following special regulation:

- Auditors who are unable to provide the necessary evidence to maintain their ratings by the end of the second half of 2020 due to the current situation, will be provided an extension until the end of the first quarter of 2021.

- Using a copy of the official VDA QMC letter, it can be demonstrated that certificates in VDA 6.3 and IATF 16949 (Part 1) that have an expiration date of December 31, 2020 will remain valid until March 31, 2021.

This special regulation is valid immediately and will be implemented worldwide to all regions of the QMC VDA licensee network.

VDA QMC seguirá monitoreando la situación global y dependiendo de la evolución de la propagación del COVID-19, se pudieran iniciar medidas adicionales

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Rules for obtaining and maintaining IATF recognition Fifth Edition Rules


The Fifth Edition of the Rules for Obtaining and Maintaining IATF 16949 Recognition (“Fifth Edition Rules”) was published in November 2016 and effective January 1, 2017. The following Sanctioned Interpretations were determined and approved by the IATF. Unless otherwise stated, Sanctioned Interpretations are applicable once they are published.

The revised text is displayed in blue. To see the interpretations download pdf.

A Sanctioned Interpretation changes the interpretation of a rule or a requirement which in turn becomes the basis of a nonconformity.

SI 1 was issued in June 2017, effective July 1, 2017. SIs 2 through 5 were issued in October 2017, and effective October 1, 2017. SI 6-7 issued November 2018, effective 12 November 2018.

SI 8 issued in October 2019, effective November 1, 2019. SI 1 revised and reissued October 2019, effective January 1, 2020.

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IATF 16949 :2016 – Validated interpretations (SIs)


The first edition of IATF 16949 was published in October 2016 and applied from 1 January 2017. The following validated interpretations (SI) in this document have been developed and approved by the IATF. Unless otherwise specified, validated interpretations shall apply from the moment of publication.

The revised text is displayed in blue. To see the interpretations download pdf.

A validated interpretation modifies the interpretation of a standard or requirement and becomes the reference for determining a nonconformity.

  • SI 1-9 published October 2017, effective October 2017.
  • SI 10-11 published April 2018, effective June 2018
  • SI 8 revised June 2018, effective July 2018
  • SI 10 revised June 2018, effective July 2018
  • SI 12-13 published April 2018, effective July 2018
  • SI 14-15 published November 2018, effective January 2019
  • SI 16-18 published October 2019, effective January 2020
  • SI 4 revised and published August 2020, effective September 2020
  • SI 19 published August 2020, effective October 2020
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Special regulation COVID-19 to maintain the validity of auditor certificates by VDA QMC. Special regulation extended until June 30, 2021


VDA QMC Germany issued in Berlin last December 2020 reporting a special extension this was due to the current outbreak of the coronavirus SARS CoV 2 (COVID-19), several measures are being taken to curb the spread of the virus. In order to relieve auditors during this situation, VDA QMC establishes the following special regulation:

Auditors who are unable to provide the necessary evidence to maintain their rating at the end of the first quarter of 2021 due to the current situation will be granted an extension until the end of the second quarter of 2021. By using this letter you can check that the certificates for VDA 6.3 and IATF 16949 1st / 2nd party topics, which have an effective date until March 31, 2021 are still valid until June 30, 2021.

During this period they must process the renewal of their credential through the ID340 event, for more information they can do it in the contact section of the website.