International Cooperation for Higher Quality: VDA and AIAG Publish Joint Standard for Statistical Process Control in the Automotive Industry

New SPC Manual harmonizes previously differing approaches and establishes a uniform foundation for the application of statistical methods in quality management.

Berlin / Southfield, July 1, 2026

The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) are jointly publishing the new AIAG-VDA SPC Manual. For the first time, the international automotive industry now has access to a harmonized standard for Statistical Process Control (SPC). The manual provides a uniform foundation for the assessment, monitoring, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes throughout the global automotive supply chain.

Following the jointly developed Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Manual, the SPC Manual is the second Core Tool harmonized by AIAG and VDA. It represents another important step toward globally uniform quality standards and more efficient collaboration between manufacturers and suppliers.

The objective of the new manual is to provide companies with a practical and internationally aligned methodology for the approval, monitoring, and control of production processes. Its focus is on the transparent evaluation of machine performance, process performance, and process capability, the sustainable improvement of process knowledge, as well as the early detection and control of deviations before they result in defective products.

The manual was developed with the participation of experts from across the international automotive industry representing the entire value chain. Through close collaboration, existing approaches were harmonized, further developed, and adapted to the requirements of modern production systems.

The AIAG-VDA SPC Manual is based on established statistical methods and is aligned with the relevant international standards for Statistical Process Control. At the same time, it establishes a common terminology and systematic application approach for companies worldwide, thereby facilitating collaboration across global supply chains.

"Today, quality is created within globally connected value networks. With the joint SPC Manual, AIAG and VDA are establishing a uniform foundation for Statistical Process Control throughout the entire supply chain. This strengthens international cooperation, increases the comparability of quality requirements, and supports companies in making their processes even more robust and efficient," says Jürgen Mindel, Managing Director of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).

"We are proud to publish, together with the VDA, a manual that directly addresses the challenges of global quality requirements. For our member companies, this means they no longer have to deal with different regional standards or parallel quality processes. The harmonized approach simplifies the implementation of requirements, reduces training efforts, and enables companies to focus even more strongly on manufacturing excellence and the continuous improvement of their processes," says Matt Pohlman, Chief Executive Officer of the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG).

The manual supports companies in conducting machine performance and process capability studies, systematically qualifying and approving production equipment and processes, as well as effectively monitoring and controlling processes. In addition, it helps identify deviations at an early stage and derive appropriate measures to sustainably ensure process stability.

SPC is described as an integral part of a holistic quality management approach and is linked with established methods such as FMEA, Control Plan, and MSA/VDA 5.

With the publication of the AIAG-VDA SPC Manual, AIAG and VDA are making an important contribution to the global standardization of quality methodologies. Companies are provided with a common reference for Statistical Process Control and a reliable foundation for ensuring and continuously improving quality across global production networks.

The AIAG-VDA SPC Manual will be available in the webshop from July 1, 2026.