Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA): A Comparison Between VDA-Approach Versus QS-9000

The Failure Mode and Effects Analysis is a quality method used by the automotive industry to ensure perfect quality of products before an introduction into mass production. Two industry standards are established on the market: on the one hand the approach by VDA (in German: Verband der Automobilindustrie) on the other hand the method according to QS-9000. If somebody is familiar with one method, working with the other one will result in misunderstanding and communication problems. Both standards do have the same principal ambition but the execution is totally different as common word definitions like “Function, Failure Modes, Effects and Causes” are interpreted differently. As a consequence information can be found in different columns of the chosen format sheet. For a better understanding of the two approaches the existing case study shown by VDA will be taken as an example to describe the equivalent steps according to QS-9000.