Operational Quality Managers are heavily involved in their organization’s day-to-day business. They must meet numerous role requirements when quality issues arise – from planning the audit program to apply testing and measurement methods to direct customer contact. Operational Quality Managers are therefore often all-round talents. Especially in small and medium-sized enterprises, they must fulfill multiple areas of responsibility and various functions. Even when delegation is usually possible, the tasks still need to be monitored. Often, they even take on these tasks themselves.

The training to become an “Operational Quality Manager” focuses on applying core QM tools. The training path specifically prepares for the challenges of the operational quality management and provides the necessary tools to successfully implement quality standards in daily practice, and thus support problem-solving and process improvement.

• Understanding and applying quality management tools
  Learn to use key tools such as FMEA, Ishikawa diagrams, and risk matrices to systematically identify quality issues and implement sustainable improvements.
• Efficient handling of customer complaints
  Master the professional handling of customer complaints, root cause analysis, and implementation of corrective actions to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Conducting and supporting internal audits
  Gain the ability to plan, execute, and use the results of internal audits to drive continuous improvement in the quality management system.
• Process optimization through data analysis
  Analyze production and process data effectively to identify and implement targeted efficiency improvements.
• Monitoring and controlling QM processes
  Understand the responsibilities of an Operational Quality Manager, ensuring continuous monitoring and optimization of processes to meet quality standards.
• Collaboration and communication in quality management
  Develop effective communication skills within interdisciplinary teams, conveying quality-related information clearly to relevant departments.

The training path “Operational Quality Manager” is specifically designed for professionals in a small and medium-sized company who work in operational quality management and are entrusted with quality-relevant tasks in their company on a daily basis.

This training emphasizes practical application through a mix of expert input, individual tasks, and group exercises.

• Participation in an auditor qualification based on DIN EN ISO 19011 is recommended (e.g. qualification as VDA Auditor (ID 104)).
• Participation in a training course “Automotive Core Tools” is recommended (e.g. Automotive Core Tools (ACT) for Quality Management in the Automotive Industry (ID 415)).
• Successful completion of the Quality Manager Self-Learning Program (ID 130).

Participants receive a certificate of attendance upon completion. To obtain certification, the examination (ID 134) must be passed.

The following standards/guidelines are mandatory for attendance (preferably as PDF documents):

• ISO 9000
• ISO 9001
• ISO 9004
• ISO 19011
• IATF 16949
• VDA volume “Customer Specific Requirements”
• VDA volume “Field Failure Analysis”

The ISO standards can be purchased for a fee via the DIN Media webshop. The other accompanying material is available in our VDA QMC webshop.

The qualification as a Quality Manager in both possible training paths focuses on the respective core tasks. Not all topics can be covered in depth. For deeper insights, the following training courses are recommended:

• ISO 9001 – Compact (ID 105)
• IATF 16949 – 1st/2nd Party Auditor – Qualification (ID 211)
• VDA 6.3:2023 – Process Auditor – Qualification (ID 381)
• VDA Field Failure Analysis for Users (ID 632)
• VDA 2 – Production Process and Product Approval (ID 410)
• FMEA according to AIAG-VDA – Basics (ID 442)
• Problem Solving in 8 Disciplines (8D) with Elements of the Standardized Process for Handling Customer Complaints for Users (ID 419)
• Maturity Level Assurance for New Parts (ID 602)
• Product Safety & Conformity Representative (ID 503)