ZF Directive _Regulation of Special Characteristics__20240716

Work Instruction Corporate Function WICF_C2_0008_EN
Revision: 04
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Title: Special Characteristics (SC) within Effective 2024-03-06

the ZF Group date:
Area of Validity: Corporate Function Q – Corporate, Quality, O – Corporate Production
and D – Corporate Research and Development of ZF Friedrichshafen
AG and all its directly or indirectly controlled subsidiaries (ZF Group)
Purpose: This policy describes ZF-specific differences, additions, or
modifications to handling of Special characteristics according to VDA
and IATF handbooks.
Original Language: English
Author: QMEC – Strategy, Methods & Competencies
Stakeholders: Expert Team FMEA with representatives from all Divisions
Assigned C2.08.01
Process(es) Manage Special Characteristics through the product life cycle
Process Framework version: 11
Formal Verification process according to internal / external Standards (i.e.,

Verification: IATF, ISO, PS, DCF, WICF, etc.)
QMES – Processes & System
Approval:
QME QMES Strategy, Methods &

Quality Management Process & Systems Competencies
Excellence (PEX) (GPO)
Printed Copies are for information only and not do account for subsequent documents changes! The official version may only
be found on Symbio.
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Table of Contents
1. History and Change Log .................................................................................................. 3

2. Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 3
3. Area of Validity................................................................................................................ 4
4. Responsibilities ............................................................................................................... 5
5. Agreement ...................................................................................................................... 5
6. Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. 6
7. Definitions ...................................................................................................................... 7
Product Characteristics ............................................................................................ 7
Special Characteristics ............................................................................................. 7
Optional Characteristics ........................................................................................... 9
8. Derivation of Special Characteristics ............................................................................. 10
Introduction/Necessity ........................................................................................... 10
Procedure .............................................................................................................. 10
1st Step - Identifying of Potential SC ...................................................................... 11
2nd Step – Product Concept Filter ........................................................................... 12
3rd Step – Product Design and Experience Filter ..................................................... 12
4th Step – Process Assurance ................................................................................. 14
Flowchart .............................................................................................................. 15
9. Conditions for Handling ................................................................................................ 16
General Determinations ......................................................................................... 16
Specific Requirements ........................................................................................... 17
10. Timing .......................................................................................................................... 17
11. Related documents ....................................................................................................... 18
12. Annexes........................................................................................................................ 19
Changes from the previous version are identified with a vertical line at the left margin of the
regulation.
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1. History and Change Log
Revision
Chapter Page Type of revision
No. Date
All All New Edition 00 2017-02-01
Revision with (marked) changes

2/4 - - additions to terms (Chapter 2) 01 2017-07-01
- new chapter 4 – derivation process
Addition for derivation use and drawing

marking
All - Addition of SC for software engineering 02 2019-07-01
applications
Update to new ZF directive standard
Former DCF 17-02 renamed to

WICF_C2_0008
All All 03 2024-03-06
Complete revision of WICF_C2_0008
according to current requirements.
Adjusted the terminology for “Feature”.

All All Annex 3 – Updated with SC Handling 04 2024-04-22
Addition of Homologation/Type details
2. Purpose
The purpose of this Work Instruction is to define, mark, derive and handle Special
Characteristics and to reduce the risk of Product non-compliance. All products and all respective
production processes specification are represented by characteristics, which must comply with.
“SC are characteristics which require special care"” [VDA - A Process description covering
Special Characteristics (SC)]. This does not exclude the possibility that SC may be identified
also in other processes. (e.g., ISO 26262 Functional Safety)
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The obligation of special care must be fulfilled, because deviations in these characteristics can
seriously affect product safety, product lifetime, assembly capability, product functionality,
and/or quality of the following processes and violate official or legal regulations.
IATF16949 requires measures for determining and handling SC.
To fulfill normative guidelines and to achieve economic objectives subsequently, this Work
Instruction specifies the ZF uniform definition, marking, derivation and handling of SC.
In alignment with the department Corporate Risk & Control Management (FAR), ICS controls
are not referenced in this Work Instruction.
This Work Instruction replaces former Directive DCF 17-02. “Regulation of Special
Characteristics (SC) within the ZF Group”, Rev.02. Existing drawings with reference DCF 17-
02 that were released prior to the release of this WICF may remain unchanged. The
applicability of this WICF is for drawings that are released after this publication.
3. Area of Validity
This document applies to 1all employees of ZF Friedrichshafen AG and all its directly and
indirectly controlled subsidiaries (collectively, the “ZF Group”) of Corporate Functions Q -
Corporate Quality Management, O – Corporate Production and D – Corporate Research and
Development (Central Functions, Divisions and Regions)
This Work Instruction is binding for all ZF employees of the above-mentioned Corporate
Functions that work (define, derive, handle, measure, document, etc.) with SC.
Compliance of requirements described in this Work Instruction is covered by deliverables of
GDPEP: Global Development and Product Evolution Process and applies to all components,
subassembly, and top-level assembly products (products directly for customers) which are
provided by ZF.
This mandatory Work Instruction applies to all projects with scope of GDPEP, unless agreed by
a Customer-Specific Requirements (CSR). Current products (start/commissioning after the
release of this document) don´t have to adjust to this guideline retroactively.
In the event of any conflict between this Work Instruction and the Executive Management
Approval Matrix (“EMAM”), the provisions of the EMAM shall prevail and be binding.
The application of this Work Instruction is subject to any conflicting applicable local laws.
1
In the event of any conflict between this document and the Executive Management Approval Matrix (“EMAM”) and/or applicable
local laws the provisions of the EMAM / laws shall prevail and be binding.
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4. Responsibilities
The Head of each ZF Entity, Division, Corporate Function and Region that falls under the scope
of this Policy is responsible for its implementation and adherence to it in accordance with
applicable legal requirements.
Every manager that falls under the scope of this policy must take all actions necessary to ensure
that all their employees who are affected by this policy are familiar with its content and their
responsibilities under it.
5. Agreement
• If needed, framework and specification laid out in this Policy may be interpreted with
stronger or tighter criteria when applying (Division, BU Business Units and Product
Lines), without contradicting this guideline.
• SC defined by the customer must be assigned to the relevant classes (see appendices)
to the extent of agreed customer-specific requirements.
• English name descriptions and representative letters must be used for consistent
characteristic names. (See chapter 7)
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6. Abbreviations
ASIL Automotive Safety Integrity Level
C Critical Characteristics
DFM/DFA Design for Manufacture and Design for Assembly
FMEA Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
FMEDA Failure Mode and Effects Diagnostics Analysis
ICS Internal Control System
LOIC List of Important characteristics
MSR Monitoring and System Response
NVH Noise, Vibration & Harshness – Noise and vibration characteristics of vehicles.
OBD On-Board Diagnosis
P Process Relevant Characteristic
PCM Product Characteristic Matrix
PLC Programmable Logic Controller
PTC Pass Through Characteristic
S Significant Characteristics
SC Special Characteristics
SCM Special Characteristics Matrix
SDE Supplier Development Engineer
SPFM & LFM Single Point Failure Metric & Latent Fault Metric (ISO26262)
SQE Supplier Quality Engineer
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7. Definitions
Product Characteristics
A requirement defines what a product or process must achieve. The term "characteristic" covers
identifying specification, starting from the functional level to the level of characteristics
identifying the product and the process. A Product Characteristic must be controlled, such as
• Dimension (geometrical specification, etc.,)
• Material properties (core hardness, friction coefficient, elasticity, etc.,)
• Appearance (color, optical defects, etc.,)
• Contamination (dust, inclusions, porosity, etc.,)
• Performance (Spring force, breaking strength, electrical conductivity, etc.,)
All characteristics relating to the definition of a part or component must be achieved within
the defined specification.
Special Characteristics
“Characteristics of a product which do not have adequate robustness, which are difficult to
comply with in production and which, in the event of deviation, lead directly to serious
consequences can be identified as special characteristics.” [VDA - A Process description
covering Special Characteristics (SC)]
Only characteristics which are measurable or attributable can be marked as SC.
Special Characteristics as defined by ZF are categorized as follows:
• Critical Characteristics (C)
• Significant Characteristics (S)
All SCs must be captured in the technical documents.
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7.2.1 Critical Characteristic
A Critical Characteristic is a characteristic e.g., functional characteristic, dimension, geometrical

specification or note which may directly affect:
• Safe vehicle/system operation
• Compliance with authorities/government regulations e.g., homologation (type approval
(E1), self-certification (CE/UKCA), etc.)
This characteristic is determined from the Derivation process (Chapter 8).
It is represented by C.
In addition, we may have other Critical characteristics which are Cross-Domain in nature
(Example: When it is also relevant for System/Software Engineering Domains) and are
distinguished as follows:
• Critical-SAFETY Characteristic
• Critical-OBD Characteristics
• Critical-REGULATORY Characteristics
• Critical-SECURITY Characteristics
Note: Annex 4 addresses the Special Characteristics applicable to Software Engineering in both
the Development of Software only Products and for embedded Software in ZF Products.
7.2.2 Significant Characteristic
A Significant Characteristic is a characteristic e.g., functional characteristic, dimension,

geometrical specification or note which may directly affect:
• The principal function (primary and secondary) in the vehicle/final product, or
• The subsequent assembly process at customer side.
This characteristic is determined from the Derivation process (Chapter 8).
It is represented by S.
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Optional Characteristics
7.3.1 Pass-Through Characteristic
The main goal of the Pass-Through Characteristic is to mark a (internal/external) customer

requested subassembly or part, that produces this characteristic.
Since they do not originate in the final assembly or manufacturing plant, these are
characteristics that could potentially have fit, form, function, safety & legal problems.
• PTC ensures consistency of drawings across different tier levels that produces the
characteristic.
• The Process Risk Analysis must provide the evidence that the PTC characteristic will not
be affected by the process (e.g., machining, assembly, logistic). If there is a risk, the
PTC characteristics must be handled like the original characteristic type, i.e., review with
customer to determine handling of the Characteristic.
• PTC characteristics are defined by Product Engineering (in alignment with
Manufacturing Engineering and with customer/OEM/supplier).
This characteristic is represented by PTC and the application is optional.
If PTC is C or S related, it could be used as a suffix (e.g., PTC (S)).
7.3.2 Process Relevant Characteristic
Process relevant characteristics are characteristics in a production process or assembly process

that influence the quality of subsequent processes or enable them in the first place. The
characteristic is represented by P. When defining P characteristics, process planning considers
those characteristics that contribute to the compliance with C and/or S characteristics.
These can be, for example, allowances for C and/or S characteristics or dimensions that are
important for the clamping and alignment of a component in a process that generates a C
and/or S characteristics.
In assembly, a P characteristic can be, for example, the functional test of an error proof device
(OK/NOK master check, red rabbit parts etc.,)
Furthermore, Manufacturing Engineering can determine further P characteristics according to
the process requirements and plans appropriate inspections of these characteristics.
P characteristic is not a special characteristic according to the VDA/AIAG handbook. The
application of P characteristics and their documentation in drawings is optional.
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C or S characteristics are not permitted to be replaced with P characteristics

Note: Pre-machined castings/moldings etc. may have P, but not C or S, characteristics applied
to them.
8. Derivation of Special Characteristics
Introduction/Necessity
The following process conducts the derivation of SC, so that the special designation of these
characteristics is preserved (see chapter 1). “As much as necessary, as little as possible” [VDA
- A Process description covering Special Characteristics (SC)] is the aim in guaranteeing robust
design, i.e., the more robust a product design, the fewer special characteristics are required.
Procedure
Identified SC within the scope of process flow (chapter 8.7) are initially described and handled
as potential SC.
The preliminary allocation of SC is subjected to confirmation through a filter and verification
process.
The derivation process of SC takes place in 4 steps:
1. Identifying of Potential SC
2. Product Concept Filter
3. Product Design and Experience Filter
4. Process Assurance
The product specific properties, requirements, and production conditions must be considered
when determining SC and their handling in production.
If deviations in many characteristics can cause a malfunction it should be considered whether
it is feasible to mark a functional characteristic on higher level (e.g., breaking strength,
flammability, Leakage etc.,) then it’s possible with a project team decision.
The derivation process does not apply solely to individual parts but may also apply to family,
platform or groups of products using the same product concepts, assemblies, or definitions.
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1st Step - Identifying of Potential SC
SC result, for example, from safety, legal and regulatory requirements as well as customer
demands, ZF standards or by determinations of the project team on the base of experiences of
preceding projects (lessons learned) and complaints.
SC which are directly given by customer must be agreed at an early point of time (e.g., between
customer – ZF) and after confirmation to be included to the product documentation by ZF
without any use of filtering, before Quote approval if possible.
SC which are directly given by regulations (e.g., Type approval marking) or affecting/controlling
certified characteristics must be included to the product documentation without any use of
filtering.
Risk analysis (e.g., Fault Tree Analysis, Hazard Analysis, FMEA, FMEDA, etc.) provides a basis
for identifying potential SC.
Distinction based on FMEA Severity Evaluations:

• Regardless of the used risk analysis, a reference to severity evaluations according to
VDA/AIAG FMEA Handbook must be made.
• A critical review of the failure effects and its severity rating leads to reduced number of
potential characteristics.
If the derivation is applied by using FMEA, the identification of potential SC is done by the
assignment of severity values to the function and their respective characteristics and the impact
on the end customer.
Potential C:
A potential Critical Characteristic may directly affect:
• Safe vehicle/system operation.
• Compliance with authorities/government regulations.
• Severity S = 10/9
Potential S:
A potential Significant Characteristic may directly affect:
• The principal function (primary and secondary) in the vehicle/final product, or
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• The subsequent assembly process at customer side.

• Severity S = 8/7 (primary function)
• Severity S = 6/5 (secondary function)
2nd Step – Product Concept Filter
The objective of this filter is to avoid critical product malfunctions or effects in operation (failsafe
system/MSR) and thus SC. This should be achieved by design or concept changes at an early
development stage in the project.
The identified malfunctions are examined with a focus on whether a concept change either:
• Avoids critical/significant path or the SC completely.
o Linkage to the top event is omitted.
o The top event itself is omitted if not used otherwise.
or
• Optimization mitigates the effects through conceptual countermeasures (secure fallback
level, redundancies, etc.). Consequence is:
o Linkage to less critical top event
o Failure pattern still exists, but less critical.
See flow chart step 2, if applicable then loop back to step 1.
Concept assurance for example through:
• Redundancies (parallel or in case if need)
• Secure fallback level (“failsafe”)
• Functional and Technical Safety Concepts
3rd Step – Product Design and Experience Filter
This filter (see flow chart row 3) is designed to safeguard/avoid SC in the development process
after technical feasibility (e.g., DFM/DFA) of design between Design, Quality and Production.
Each potential Special Characteristics must be re-evaluated by the responsible R&D team
depending on the product design robustness.
Verification results are the basis for robustness evaluation of Product Design regarding identified
potential SC for example:
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Product Design Robustness
• Structural/theoretical design – verification of insensitivity to disturbances and

characteristic variations (FE-calculation, simulation, etc.)
• Confirmation of structural/physical design by test results
• Known safety factor.
• Malfunction analysis, FMEDA, SPFM, LFM, confidence level.
• Risk analysis (e.g., FMEA with Action Priority and/or Occurrence rating)
• Experience Filter (see description below)
• Mechanical poke-yoke
Other methods to evidence the robustness are accepted; the methodology or process must be
defined. If Product Design Robustness is fulfilled within the risk analysis the potential SC is no
longer traced as a SC and not entered into the technical documentation (e.g., drawing). The
linkage to severity value remains to assure the verification.
Use of experiences of preceding projects is allowed.
It is possible to take verifiable experiences of preceding project into account.
Conditions are:
Use of proven design in the follow-up project
• Positive field experiences (no complaints) of predecessor product
• Production process of a new product must be similar to current process (experience
only comparable in case of similar product design and similar process design)
• Comparable use (stress)
The Experience Filter is valid for the evaluation of all SC. For valuation of C-characteristics an
additional basic robustness verification (e.g., simulation, calculation) beside Experience Filter
must be executed. Agreed SC are taken into the technical documentation (e.g., drawings).
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4th Step – Process Assurance
The objective of this chapter is to describe the establishment of an assurance strategy (specific
to production process) for each SCs. This step is not to eliminate special characteristics, but for
assurance only.
The identification of further process relevant characteristics is to ensure a safeguarded
production process (internal/external). This happens by risk observation, e.g., DFM/DFA and
Process FMEA, of the production process (see flow chart row 4).
Assurance can be adjusted to avoidance/detection mechanism for example through:
• Poke-yoke/error proofing
• Design by tool or process flow (PLC)
• Process capabilities
• Technical solutions (e.g., reference dimension for same clamping)
• Lessons Learned from former projects
• Historical data like ppm
• Other data-based evidence
VDA handbook “Product Manufacturing and Delivery Robust Production Process“ can be used
for guidance. [VDA|QMC - Product Manufacturing and Delivery Robust Production Process]
The sufficient assurance of each special characteristic should be agreed between
Manufacturing Engineering and Quality Assurance. Special Characteristics should be assured
depending on where the characteristic is produced. All SC’s must be marked in the relevant
documents (e.g., control plan).
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Flowchart
Remarks
ZF Friedrichshafen AG Derivation of Special Characteristics
(SC - Special Characteristic; C - Critical Characteristic; S - Significant Characteristic)
Input
Step Description Process Output
(Examples)
Identifying of Potential SC (Effect Analysis)
Project Approval
Effects Analysis
--> Product concept, requirements and
functions on vehicle/final product level Mitigated effects or
Effect indentification complete avoidance
--> Customer demands for specifications/
1 Potential Special Characteristics on high level description
--> Safety/legal/regulatory requirements end customer
--> Lessons learnt from similar and related
project development and end-user
Potential SC
experience. Directly given SC
(customer agreed,
law, regulatory,
commodity parts)
Avoidance of failure effects in operation
Concept design No
validated?
Product Concept Filter
(e.g. fail-safe system)
Concept Robustness Drawing package of core product concept

--> DFMEA on system level Yes
2 Concept
--> Potential Special Characteristics Updated documentation (e.g. FMEA, design and development
--> Technical risk analysis Design changes documentation)
possible? Yes
SC avoidance
No
No
Product design verified
Product Design and Experience Filter
& technical feasibility

agreed?
Product Design and Experience Filter
--> Potential SC
SC avoidance
--> DFM/DFA Process (decision matrix)

3 --> P-Diagram Yes Technical documentation with SC (e.g. drawing)
Yes Product
--> DFMEA (Product & component)
design change
--> PFMEA
possible?
--> Historical data
SC avoidance
No
Marking of SC
in technical
Documentation
Avoidance of failures in production process that
Production Planning /
affects final customer
Process filter
Process Assurance
Process Assurance
--> Technical documentation
4 Marking of SC in all relevant documents (e.g. Control Plan)
--> Summarized SC
--> PFMEA
Assurance of determined
SC in production
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9. Conditions for Handling
General Determinations
• The assignment/selection of characteristics is based on derivation process (Chapter 8).

• Specific SC (Annex 4) resulting from software engineering applications will continue
with C in the subsequent processes.
• The identification of SC from engineering applications takes place at least by means of
an attribute in the requirements, test or change management process.
• The documentation of SC must be evidenced in the product and/or manufacturing
documents (as required), relevant risk analysis (such as Process FMEA), control plans,
and standard work/operator instructions. SC are identified with specific markings and
are documented in the manufacturing documents which show the creation of, or the
controls required, for these SC.
• The assignment of a SC to a characteristic must be clear/explicit, producible and
measurable.
• If SC were deleted, it must be ensured that there is no contradiction with further
characteristics in the consistent documentation, e.g., no reuse of the characteristic
identification number.
• In drawings or prints, they are represented/visualized acc.to Annex 3 (“zeppelin
symbol”).
• Counting method if no characteristic identifier (serial numbering of all characteristics)
is given, is SC-classes depending (e.g., C1, C2, … & S1, S2, …), otherwise the value of
the identifier must be used.
• The symbol shall be placed close to the characteristic, so that it is uniquely assigned to
it. In unclear cases the assignment can be made via arrows.
• An overview on the drawing or print (close to the title block on page 1) of SC-classes
and the respective amount is recommended and would be illustrated. Please refer to
Annex 3 for more information.
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Specific Requirements
CRITICAL (C) SIGNIFICANT (S)
A C-characteristic must have a severity of 9 or 10 in A S-characteristic must have a severity of 5 to 8 in the

the FMEA. However, a severity of 9 or 10 in the FMEA FMEA. However, a severity of 5 to 8 in the FMEA does
Risk Analysis does not necessarily lead to a C-characteristic. Each not necessarily lead to a S-characteristic. Each
potential C-characteristic must pass through the potential S-characteristic must pass through the
derivation process. derivation process.
Compliance of SC to specification/drawing must be constantly verified, i.e., through special measures (reliability
analysis, error proofing, process parameter monitoring, etc.) or process capability or 100% inspection.
Verification
e.g., Capability Short term: min > 1.67 Short term: min > 1.67
Long term: min > 1.33 Long term: min > 1.33
The archiving of all documentation relating to the activities involved in determining special characteristics are to be
Archiving retained according to Global Records Management PS 20-0206. (Min. 15 years acc. to OPS.710)
Retention periods for the suppliers regarding documents, records and reference samples are defined in QD83.
Production Production deviations need special recorded approvals and must be verified regarding their impact.
Deviation
Marking in
Drawings C 200 S 521
(Examples)
Note: The definition and rules to perform a short-term and long-term capability studies are
defined in Chapter 8.4 (Process Qualification) in VDA Band 4; Section 3: Methods. (VDA. 2021
, 2021)
10. Timing
The timing for Special Characteristics in both Application and Core phases of a project shall
be in alignment with the Global Development and Product Evolution Process (GDPEP).
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11. Related documents
ID Title
DCF 20-0223 ZF FMEA Standard (2022)
DCF 23-0168 GDPEP: Global Development and Product Evolution Process

(GDPEP 3.0) (2023)
- IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Management System

Standard (2016)
- AIAG - CQI-19 | Sub tier Supplier Management Process

Guideline (2012)
- VDA/AIAG - Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - FMEA

Handbook (2019)
- ZF Friedrichshafen - Global Records Management
- VDA|QMC - Product Manufacturing and Delivery Robust

Production Process (2019)
- VDA - Quality Assurance in the Process Landscape: Methods

(2021)
- ISO 22514-2:2017 - Statistical methods in process

management — Capability and performance — Part 2: Process
capability and performance of time-dependent process models
- ISO 26262-1:2018 - Road Vehicles - Functional Safety.
- VDA - A Process description covering Special Characteristics

(SC) (2020)
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12. Annexes
ID Title
WICF_C2_0008_Annex_01 Special Characteristics (SC) – Cross Reference List for

Customer Key Characteristics – ZF
WICF_C2_0008_Annex_02 Special Characteristics (SC) – Cross Reference List for ZF

Internal Key Characteristics
WICF_C2_0008_Annex_03 Proportions and Dimensions of Graphical Symbols in Drawings

(Prints)
WICF_C2_0008_Annex_04 Special Characteristics (SC) in Software Engineering

Applications
be found on Symbio.

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Work Instruction Corporate Function WICF_C2_0008_EN

Title: Special Characteristics (SC) within Effective 2024-03-06

Stakeholders: Expert Team FMEA with representatives from all Divisions

Process Framework version: 11

Formal Verification process according to internal / external Standards (i.e.,

QME QMES Strategy, Methods &

1. History and Change Log .................................................................................................. 3

1. History and Change Log

All All New Edition 00 2017-02-01

Revision with (marked) changes

Addition for derivation use and drawing

Former DCF 17-02 renamed to

Adjusted the terminology for “Feature”.

ASIL Automotive Safety Integrity Level

DFM/DFA Design for Manufacture and Design for Assembly

FMEA Failure Mode and Effects Analysis

FMEDA Failure Mode and Effects Diagnostics Analysis

ICS Internal Control System

LOIC List of Important characteristics

MSR Monitoring and System Response

OBD On-Board Diagnosis

P Process Relevant Characteristic

PCM Product Characteristic Matrix

PLC Programmable Logic Controller

PTC Pass Through Characteristic

SCM Special Characteristics Matrix

SDE Supplier Development Engineer

SQE Supplier Quality Engineer

7.2.1 Critical Characteristic

A Critical Characteristic is a characteristic e.g., functional characteristic, dimension, geometrical

7.2.2 Significant Characteristic

A Significant Characteristic is a characteristic e.g., functional characteristic, dimension,

7.3.1 Pass-Through Characteristic

The main goal of the Pass-Through Characteristic is to mark a (internal/external) customer

7.3.2 Process Relevant Characteristic

Process relevant characteristics are characteristics in a production process or assembly process

C or S characteristics are not permitted to be replaced with P characteristics

8. Derivation of Special Characteristics

1st Step - Identifying of Potential SC

Distinction based on FMEA Severity Evaluations:

• The subsequent assembly process at customer side.

2nd Step – Product Concept Filter

3rd Step – Product Design and Experience Filter

Product Design Robustness

• Structural/theoretical design – verification of insensitivity to disturbances and

4th Step – Process Assurance

Assurance can be adjusted to avoidance/detection mechanism for example through:

(e.g. fail-safe system)

Concept Robustness Drawing package of core product concept

& technical feasibility

--> DFM/DFA Process (decision matrix)

9. Conditions for Handling

• The assignment/selection of characteristics is based on derivation process (Chapter 8).

CRITICAL (C) SIGNIFICANT (S)

A C-characteristic must have a severity of 9 or 10 in A S-characteristic must have a severity of 5 to 8 in the

11. Related documents

DCF 20-0223 ZF FMEA Standard (2022)

DCF 23-0168 GDPEP: Global Development and Product Evolution Process

- IATF 16949 - Automotive Quality Management System

- AIAG - CQI-19 | Sub tier Supplier Management Process

- VDA/AIAG - Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - FMEA

- ZF Friedrichshafen - Global Records Management

- VDA|QMC - Product Manufacturing and Delivery Robust

- VDA - Quality Assurance in the Process Landscape: Methods