During working in the automotive industry, it’s good to know terms and abbreviations that are commonly used in this field.
In the article below, we present the fourth part of the series related to 50 English terms and abbreviations for suppliers producing components for the automotive industry (the first part is available here, the second here and the third here).
Download our free ebook 200 english terms and abbreviations for Automotive Engineer
We hope that it will be very helpful support during Your work.
0 km claim
Term used to report quality and logistic notifications from the customer’s plant where production parts are shipped for the first assembly.
5 x Why
A technique used during root cause analysis to define actions that will act on it (not on the problem symptom for which ICA is defined).
Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)
An organization founded by representatives of the three largest North American car manufacturers: Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Currently, Japanese companies are also members, as well as many of their first and second tier suppliers and service providers.
It prepares, among others, core tools manuals: APQP, SPC, MSA, FMEA (most recently with VDA), PPAP, and CQI.
Casting Process
When using this process, some customers may require additional CQI audits. In this case, CQI-27: Special Process: Casting System Assessment.
Certification Body
The unit that carries out IATF certification and supervision audits at a dedicated supplier.
Change Notice (CN)
Formally notifies the organization by the client about change kick-off.
Changeover
Activity carried out by the maintenance department.
Cp
Statistical Process Control (SPC) indicator relating to manufacturing process variability.
Cpk
Process capability indicator. It considers the manufacturing process variability and the difference between the mean and the specification limits.
D/TLD
Term used in cooperation with VW. Refers to characteristics that require specific supervision and archiving. In accordance with VW’s CSR, the organization must conduct a special audit regarding this activity every 12 months.
Design Change
Design change initiated by the customer or by the supplier where they are co-responsible for the project.
Detection
A term used in the FMEA development, referring to the controls that will be implemented to detect a given type of failure mode.
Diagnostic Procedure
A term used to manage warranty returns. Its acceptance by OEM allows the organization to eliminate 50% of liability for NTF’s.
Dry-run session
Internal preparation and materials review carried out by the organization before meeting with the client.
End of Production (EoP)
According to the contract arrangement, the supplier must still produce service parts for the customer after EoP to replace parts in the warranty field.
Engineering and Design (E&D)
Organization development department. If the organization is co-responsible for the project, the development department provides the production plant with information about Severity from DFMEA for use in the Process PFMEA development.
Field Return
Term used for returns from the warranty field.
Foaming Process
Concerns the production of elements made of polyurethane foam (PUR) applicable in the production of car seats and elements for soundproofing carpets and floors.
International Automotive Task Force (IATF)
An organization associating car manufacturers and associations of automotive industry producers, whose main task is to ensure developed standards to achieve better quality of manufactured automotive parts.
Label
Containers marking method with components and finished products.
Line Walk Audit / Verification
Term applied to a verification or audit that is carried out directly on the production line.
Lock-out Tag out (LOTO)
Activity used to improve visualization during repair, aimed at improving the safety of the maintenance personnel.
Management Review (MR)
Activity performed to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of a quality management system (QMS).
Months in Service (MIS)
One of the basic warranty terms.
Number of Distinct Categories (NDC)
Used in Gage R&R studies to identify the capability of a measurement system. It is used to detect a difference in the measured characteristic. The NDC represents the number of non-overlapping confidence intervals that span the range of product variability.
OEM Performance Complaint
a complaint made by Stellantis-FCA or Ford to the Certification Body in the event of non-compliance related to IATF requirements by the supplier. This is one of the special status scenarios.
Part Number (PN)
A term used to identify a manufactured component number.
Part Submission Warrant (PSW)
A document confirming the fulfillment of all quality and quantity requirements by the supplier – submitted during the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
Production Buffer
Term applied to production buffers that are designed in nest production. For example, stamping followed by welding.
Project Lifetime
Duration of the project during which parts are produced for the first assembly.
Quality Assurance (QA)
Quality assurance department.
Quality Controller
An employee carrying out quality controls, e.g., First Good Part verification or Finished Product Audit.
Re-pass / Re-use
Component recovery operations in the standard production part flow. Customer official approval is usually required prior to deployment.
Request For Quotation (RFQ)
Documentation package sent by the OEM to the supplier for analysis and feedback. This is part of the process of selecting suppliers to receive new business.
Service Part
Customer-approved part that is replaced over the warranty field.
Severity / Gravity
The importance of the problem from the point of view of the end customer. Term used in the FMEA development.
Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED)
Set of techniques and tools enabling optimization of changeover times of machines, molds, devices, and production processes.
Soldering Process
Applicable in electronics, air conditioning, and high-pressure pipes.
Stamping Process
Applied for car body parts, cross-car beam, seat metal structures, and other metal parts.
Tier 1
Used to refer to a supplier that directly sends components to the customer (OEM).
Tier 2
Term used to refer to a sub-supplier of a supplier. It can be designated by the customer to deliver sub-components to Tier 1. In this case, it is referred to as “Direct-Buy”.
Tooling Refurbishment
Activity which is negotiated during the extension of model production or during tooling wear and tear resulting from the increased number of orders in relation to the assumptions in the same period.
Tooling Relocation
Tooling transfer resulting from the organization’s internal cost optimization strategy.
Torque and Angle Strategy
Used for the supplier validation of bolted connections.
Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (TISAX)
A certification used in the automotive industry focusing on processing information in a safe way. Increasingly, it is also a customer requirement that determines the new business assignment.
Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
A book proposal that explains the mapping thoroughly: “Learn to See” by Mike Rother and John Shook.
Analysis of warranty returns. One of the two reference manuals used in the automotive industry as CSR for the IATF 10.2.5 requirement.
Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA)
German Association of the Automotive Industry.
Verification Sample (Red Rabbit)
Samples used to verify the production process.
Welding
Process used to assemble metal components (for example MIG, MAG, laser welding).
Work Sequence
A work sequence that must be carried out in a certain order.
World Class Manufacturing
A system based on the systematic reduction of all types of losses by engaging defined resources using specific methods and standards.
Download our free ebook 200 english terms and abbreviations for Automotive Engineer
