KSS Global Standard

Product Characteristic Classification

KSS GLOBAL STANDARD

Product Characteristics Classification

(CC/SC Standard)

KSS 050

Document No: 1033079

Authors:

Gnther Hilbich

Approved by:

Andreas Staub

Approved by:

Dieter Hahn

Document History
Revision:

Release Date

ECP No.

Modification
Changed wording from Guideline to Standard
Removed Scarpa and Jost as Approvers

3
2

2 Mar 2012

50982

5.1- Note deleted; 5.2: Owners of CC/SC list columns

corrected; 5.4.2: D- FMEA added; 7: Attachment 2 added;

22 Sep 2011

47830

Fully revised standard

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Product Characteristic Classification

Table of Content

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 3
1

PURPOSE................................................................................................................................................... 3

SCOPE........................................................................................................................................................ 3

RESPONSIBILITY ...................................................................................................................................... 3

DEFINITIONS / ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................ 3

DETERMINATION OF SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................ 4

REFERENCES (RELATED DOCUMENTS) ............................................................................................... 9

APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................. 9

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Product Characteristic Classification

Introduction
This KSS Standard outlines requirements for how to control potential risks related to
product and process through the identification and management of special product
and process characteristics (named Critical Characteristics and Significant
Characteristics).

Purpose
The purpose of this standard is to facilitate and to harmonize the use of special
characteristics within drawings and other documentation throughout the KSS group.
It explains the management and handling of special characteristics to fulfill
functional and regulatory requirements.

Scope
All KSS sites, organizations, and suppliers must adhere to this standard.

Responsibility
The Engineering Manager or Director of each KSS engineering department is
responsible to ensure that the CC/SC standard is followed, monitored and
observed during development.
The Product Engineer is responsible to define the CC/SC for all engineering
documentation associated with development for the assigned programs.
The Quality Manager/ Director is responsible to ensure that requirements defined in
this standard are implemented.
The Procurement Director and Director of Supplier Quality are responsible to
communicate this standard and enforce compliance at the supplier level.

Definitions / Abbreviations
A characteristic is a dimension or a physical, chemical, electrical, mechanical or
visual property. A characteristic must be measurable, either directly or indirectly,
either variable or attribute.
Attribute characteristics are qualitative data that is measured or checked and
results in conformance or non-conformance, pass or fail.

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Product Characteristic Classification
Variable characteristics are quantitative data which can be measured, and the
result is an absolute measurement reading eg. Millimeters, Inches, Newtons, etc.
There are two different types of special characteristics:
Critical Characteristics (CC)
are product characteristics that may affect the
safety of product or operator
compliance with legal requirements
environmental requirements.
These characteristics are designated in the D- or PFMEA, having a causal
relationship to the effect of potential failure modes rated 9-10 for severity.
Significant Characteristics (SC)
are product characteristics that may affect
form, fit or function of the product
the production (assembly) process
These characteristics are designated in the D- or PFMEA having a causal
relationship to the effect of potential failure modes rated 5-8 for severity, or where
agreed by the cross-functional team, having severity rated less than 5.
SC characteristics may be influenced by the manufacturing process (KSS and/or
suppliers) and may require special control to maintain the required process
capability and customer requirements.

Determination of Special Characteristics

5.1

Identification
Source of special
characteristics

Criteria

Outcome

DFMEA

Severity rating = 9, 10

CC

DFMEA

Severity Rating = 5 8
Occurrence= 4-10
Severity rating = 9, 10

SC

PFMEA
PFMEA

Severity Rating = 5 8
Occurrence = 4 10

Customer or internal
requirements
Legal, environmental
requirements

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CC
SC
CC or SC
CC

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Product Characteristic Classification
5.2

CC/SC List
Each DFMEA/PFMEA requires a CC/SC list as a controlled document (see
appendix) and is to be understood as a subset of the DFMEA.
The purpose of the CC/SC list is to monitor and assure that all special
characteristics are effectively controlled and documented during development and
ongoing production. It is a mandatory document and shall be used for each product.
Task

Responsible

Owner of the CC/SC List *)

List all CC/SC (column A- I)
Input of data (column J-M )KSS Process
Input of Data (components level) (column N-R)
Input of data (module level) ( column N- R)

Product Engineer
Product Engineer
Process Engineer
SQE
SQA, (SQE)

*): In case of not timely deliverable of data, immediate escalation to Program

Manager (PM) is indicated. PM to escalate latest in TG review.
5.3

Control of CC/SC

5.3.1 During Development

All special characteristics determined as CC/SC during FMEA process shall
be carried forward to the CC/SC list, the drawings, the control plans, and to
standard work instructions.
All CC/SC shall be verified and validated during Design Validation (DV).
The supplier shall evaluate and implement the measurement method
approved by KSS and other appropriate controls on characteristics related to
their processes.
The supplier shall evaluate their processes and further identify, document,
and control additional contributing characteristics.
All CC/SC shall be verified prior to any DV or customer builds.
5.3.2 During PPAP and Product Validation (PV)
All CC/SC on the drawings, control plans and other documents shall be
referenced in the PPAP documentation and proven capable.
Process capability must be proven for each special characteristic

If capability cannot be demonstrated, 100% check must be performed

with proven detection of non-compliance

If this is not possible other methods must be applied (e.g Poka-yoke)

Compliance of attribute characteristics can be proven by using a

certificate.

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The initial process capability study is to evaluate:

The conformity of characteristics to the specified requirement and the
effect of tool/process variation on these characteristics.
If material is identified as a CC a material certificate must be included in
PPAP submission and must be available for each batch/lot during mass
production.
Capability studies shall be performed according to the AIAG manual
Statistical Process Control (SPC), and measurement equipment shall be
proven acceptable according to the AIAG manual Measurement Systems
Analysis (MSA)/ ISO/TS 16949, latest editions.
Suppliers shall demonstrate their ability to perform capable measurement of
special characteristics according to methods agreed by KSS.
Evidence shall be provided during supplier APQP process.
5.3.3 During Serial Production
All CC/SC on the drawings, D- and PFMEA, and/or specifications shall be
verified during serial production and reflected in approved control plans.
5.4

CC/SC List Management

5.4.1 All CC/SC lists shall be written in English. Dual language (local language and
English) can be applied as applicable.
5.4.2 Distribution of the complete CC/SC list data outside of KSS (customer or supplier)
is prohibited, as well as D- and PFMEA, but can be presented upon request. The
supplier shall be provided with the CC/SC list for his component.

5.5

Documentation of Special Characteristics

CC/SCs must be marked on the drawing according to the global KSS drafting
standard.

General numbering of characteristics (dimensions)

or

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5.6

Table on the drawing specifying the identification number of the characteristics

Some more examples

Documentation/Record retention
All documents referring to special characteristics shall be written in English or in
dual language (local language and english)
Record Retention is mandatory for each document and/or report referring to
special characteristics.

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5.7

Summary and FAQ

CC
1

When to apply a CC/ SC

Is a deviation approval
possible in case out of
spec.?
For new design and new
tool after 31 Oct 2011
Evidence for PPAP
approval

3
3.1

3.2

Evidence in serial
production

Existing design or tools

before 31 Oct. 2011
Evidence for PPAP
approval

4.1

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SC

Affects product and

operator safety and/or
compliance with
regulatory requirements.

No

Affects product form, fit

or function (other than
safety and regulatory) or
has other valid reasons
to classify significant
Yes, temporarily

Initial capability Ppk>2.0

or
Poka-Yoke
or
100% detection
If the CC applies to
material, a material
certificate is required
Continuous capability
Cpk >1.67, if verification
indicated by SPC
(Statistical Process
Control)
or
Poka-Yoke
or
100% detection
If the CC applies to
material, a material
certificate is required on
request.

Init. capability Ppk >1.67

or
Poka-Yoke
or
100% detection
(material spec. applies to
CC classification)
Continuous capability
Cpk >1.33, if verification
indicated by SPC
(Statistical Process
Control)
or
Poka-Yoke
or
100% detection
(material spec applies to
CC classification)

Initial capability Ppk>1,67 Init. capability Ppk >1.33

or
or
Poka-Yoke
Poka-Yoke
or
or
100% detection
100% detection
If the CC applies to
(material spec. applies to
material, a material
CC classification)
certificate is required

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4.2

Evidence in serial
production

Continuous capability
Cpk >1.33, if verification
indicated by SPC
(Statistical Process
Control)
or
Poka-Yoke
or
100% detection
If the CC applies to
material, a material
certificate is required on
request.

Continuous capability
Cpk >1.33, if verification
indicated by SPC
(Statistical Process
Control)
or
Poka-Yoke
or
100% detection
(material spec
applies to CC
classification)

References (Related Documents)

- KSS Quality First Manual
- KSS Global Drafting Standard

Appendices
1: CC/SC list template (Doc. No:1033080)
2: List of CC/SC Symbols (Doc. No:1011538)

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