AIAG & VDA FMEA Handbook OEM Deployment Plan
The automobile sector welcomed the new FMEA Handbook OEM deployment plan in 2019, just before the pandemic was declared. Here’s what the plan is, how it’s likely to affect the automotive industry going forward, and why this was such an important announcement.
The ISO Edge was closely monitoring developments on this front because we offer FMEA consulting and training services. That’s why the development of a new FMEA handbook was of major interest to us—we were determined to stay on top of this major change in the FMEA world and ensure that our team of highly-trained FMEA consultants could continue to be called upon to help you with any issues you have.
The announcement itself happened at the Quality Summit in November 2019 and outlined the plans by North American OEMs for the deployment of the brand-new AIAG & VDA FMEA Handbook.
The reactions of the major automotive industry players to the new FMEA handbook and format change were reflected in information released by the companies themselves.
FCA
The handbook itself was listed as an accepted FMEA methodology in their customer-specific requirements document as of July 2019. FCA stated that the methodology of the handbook was allowed for use, effective immediately on a case-by-case basis. They also stated that there was an agreement required between FCA and the supplier in question before use of the methodology could begin in earnest. The handbook could be put into use for programs that came to fruition in, during, or after December 2019. The handbook’s DFMEA Form Sheet and ‘G’ Form of the PFMEA needs to be used by the supplier for their submissions.
Ford
Ford has announced that any FMEA from suppliers that use the AIAG & VDA FMEA Handbook would be accepted. This is confirmation that the handbook’s own methodology is highly trusted by one of the biggest names in the automotive industry. Any suppliers interested in using the handbook right away will need to do so on a per-program basis, for programs starting in either the 2022 model year or commodities that start in the same model year needing to retain a Functional Safety focus to be acceptable.
The fact that the new format is accepted by Ford wherever suppliers are making use of the joint AIAG & VDA FMEA approach goes a long way to ease the doubts of some other major players in the automotive industry. Managing the challenging timeline like this ensures that other issues are prevented from building up.
Suppliers will be required to utilize the new format on a per-program basis, starting as soon as 2022 with MY programs, and / or with commodities that require a functional safety focus in compliance with ISO-26262.
Honda
Honda’s North American group has said they would accept the new format at any point, and not necessarily on a case-by-case basis. From around the first of February 2022, suppliers attempting to do any of the following will need to apply the new AIAG & VDA FMEA format: new production processes, new production lines, and new production parts. By January of 2027, every single document will be in the new AIAG & VDA FMEA format for Honda.
General Motors
GM estimated that the implementation of the program will start in 2023. They’ll communicate the acceptance of the new approach through tables and form sheets, and they also announced there would be customer-specific requirements, to be announced at a later date. GM is still interested in finding out when they’ll be able to start accepting FMEAs based on the AIAIG & VDA FMEA Handbook.
What’s Next?
There’s no doubt that we’ll be talking about this change to FMEA for years to come. Whether you’re in the automotive industry because you work with one of the biggest names in the business, or whether you’re involved in an auxiliary role that involves the use of FMEA consultants and training, it’s vital to have a handle on exactly what the new AIAG & VDA FMEA Handbook format is likely to mean for you, your company, and your business partners. This lone article can’t address all the ins and outs of the changes, so we hope that it will at least help you to begin carrying out your own research on the topic.
Contact us to find out how you can benefit from FMEA consulting and receiving support from our highly trained FMEA consultants. We’re convinced we can provide the help you’re looking for.
