Volkswagen produces world-class quality

The successful audit of the various quality-management systems in place at Volkswagen Group South Africa has reaffirmed the organisation’s position as a world-class manufacturer

A week-long audit in September 2019, conducted by German company TÜV Nord, found Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) compliant with the requirements set out in the international ISO 9001:2015 quality management standard; the European VDA 6.1:2016 quality management standard; and the European directive for vehicle manufacturing RREG 2007/46/EG.

The vehicle manufacturer has once again received its certifications for these standards. The annual management-system audit shows VWSA’s compliance with the latest international standards and indicates its commitment to quality and success in a global market.

The audit covered the manufacturing plant in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, the sales and marketing offices in Johannesburg and the parts and accessories facility in Centurion in Gauteng.

“These certifications prove that VWSA remains a world-class manufacturing facility,” says Thomas Schaefer, VWSA chairman and MD. “It shows our customers, both locally and abroad, that we are compliant with international standards and committed to excellence.

“I am proud of the work done by VWSA to ensure we deliver the highest-quality products to our customers and of each employee who continues to fulfil that promise.”

In the closing meeting of the audit, TÜV Nord made special mention of the VWSA’s standardised shop-floor management system across its production areas; its thorough tracking of performance; the continuous improvement evident in all areas relating to system control and technology development; the company’s successful growth in new markets; and its strategy for keeping employees motivated.

TÜV Nord is responsible for auditing the occupational health, safety, environmental and energy systems at many of the Volkswagen Group plants across the world.

The VWSA Uitenhage plant was the first of the 119 production plants in the Volkswagen Group production network to receive its ISO 9001:2015 certificate from TÜV Nord back in 2015.

It took the quality-assurance department just six weeks to meet the requirements of the standard after its introduction.