KSS Global Standard

Product Characteristic Classification

KSS GLOBAL STANDARD

Product Characteristics Classification

(CC/SC Standard)

KSS 050

Document No: 1033079

Author: Katrin Munsch

Hubert Ross (electronic signature on file)

Approved by:
Liviu Barnutiu (electronic signature on file)

Guenther Hilbich (electronic signature on file)

Ken Junkins (electronic signature on file)

Todd Gross (electronic signature on file)

ECP/DCO
Revision: Release Date
4 20 Iul 2017
3 21 Nov 2012
2 2 Mar 2012
Document History
Modification
No.
SC-CC Procedure reworked to resemble accordance to
VDA (as well as to AIAG)
116089 correlation of severity Rating and SC-CC updated according
to VDA
Changed wording from Guideline to Standard
56282 Removed Scarpa and Jost as Approvers
5.1- Note deleted; 5.2: Owners of CC/SC list columns
50982 corrected; 5.4.2: D- FMEA added; 7: Attachment 2 added;

1 22 Sep 2011 47830 Fully revised standard

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Product Characteristic Classification

Table of Content

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 3

1 PURPOSE................................................................................................................................................... 3

2 SCOPE........................................................................................................................................................ 3

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

4 DEFINITIONS / ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................ 4

5 DETERMINATION OF SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................ 5

6 REFERENCES (RELATED DOCUMENTS)............................................................................................. 11

7 APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................... 11

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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).

1 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.

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

3 Responsibility
The Quality Manager/ Director is responsible to ensure that requirements defined in
this standard are implemented.

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 that the CCs/SCs for all engineering
documentation associated with development for the assigned programs are
defined.

The Process Engineer is responsible that the CCs/SCs for all engineering
documentation associated with the production process for the assigned programs
are defined.

The Procurement Director and Director of Supplier Quality are responsible to

communicate this standard and enforce compliance at the supplier level.

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Product Characteristic Classification

4 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 checked and results in

conformance or non-conformance, pass or fail.

Variable characteristics are quantitative data which can be measured, and the
result is an absolute measurement reading eg. Millimeter, Inch, Newton, etc.

There are two different types of special characteristics:

Critical Characteristics (CC)

are characteristics that may affect the

 safety of product or operator
 compliance with legal requirements
 environmental requirements.
These characteristics are designated in the D- or P- FMEA, and can have a causal
relationship to the effect of potential failure modes rated 9-10 for severity.

The manufacturing process (KSS and/or suppliers) may have an influence on

characteristics which can result in a CC and may require special control to maintain
the required process capability and customer requirements.

Significant Characteristics (SC)

are characteristics that may affect

 form, fit or function of the product
 the assembly process (final product/set)
 the production process (components)
These characteristics are designated in the D- or P- FMEA and can have 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.

The manufacturing process (KSS and/or suppliers) may have an influence on

characteristics which can result in an SC and may require special control to
maintain the required process capability and customer requirements.

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5 Determination of Special Characteristics

5.1 Identification

Source of special Criteria Potential

characteristics Outcome
DFMEA Severity rating = 9, 10 CC or SC
DFMEA Severity Rating = 5 – 8 SC or CC
Occurrence= 4-10
PFMEA Severity rating = 9, 10 CC or SC
PFMEA Severity Rating = 5 – 8 SC or CC
Occurrence = 4 – 10
Customer or internal CC or SC
requirements
Material CC
(mandatory)
Legal requirements CC
(mandatory)
environmental CC
requirements

An assessment of the severity 9 or 10 does not automatically result in an SC or CC.

(Source: VDA, Product creation: A Process description covering special
characteristics (SC)).

The final decision about the need of CC or SC is based on:

- customer specific requirements
- Legal requirements
- team knowledge related to severity 8, 9, and 10

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5.2 CC/SC List

The purpose of the CC/SC list is to monitor and assure that all special
characteristics are effectively controlled and documented during development and
serial production.
Each DFMEA / PFMEA requires an internal CC/SC list and is to be understood as a
part of the DFMEA / PFMEA.
The internal CC/SC list has to be created by engineering for internal use.
This internal CC/SC list is the base of the customer CC/SC list, if required, which is
then created by the quality engineer.
The internal CC/SC list is mandatory and shall be used for each product.

Task Responsible
Owner of the internal CC/SC List *) Product Engineer
Owner of the customer CC/SC List Customer Quality Engineer

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

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

Supporting functions: Process Engineer, SQE, SQA

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
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 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.

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.

The 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).
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 internal CC/SC list outside of KSS 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.

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5.5 Documentation of Special Characteristics

 CC/SC’s must be marked on the drawing according to the global KSS drafting
standard.
 General numbering of characteristics (dimensions)
or

 Table on the drawing specifying the identification number of the characteristics

 Some more examples

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5.6 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 Affects product and
operator safety and/or
compliance with
regulatory requirements.
2 Is a deviation approval
possible in case out of No
spec.?
3 For new design and new
tool after 31 Oct 2011
3.1 Evidence for PPAP Initial capability Ppk >2.0
approval or
Poka-Yoke
or
100% detection
If the CC applies to
material, a material
certificate is required
3.2 Evidence in serial Continuous capability
production 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.
4 Existing design or tools
before 31 Oct. 2011
4.1 Evidence for PPAP Initial capability Ppk>1,67 Init. capability Ppk >1.33
approval or
Poka-Yoke
or
100% detection
If the CC applies to (material spec. applies to
material, a material CC classification)
certificate is required
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SC
Affects product form, fit
or function (other than
safety and regulatory) or
has other valid reasons
to classify significant
Yes, temporarily
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)
or
Poka-Yoke
or
100% detection
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Product Characteristic Classification

4.2 Evidence in serial Continuous capability Continuous capability

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

6 References (Related Documents)

- E35475 Global FMEA Standard
- KSS Quality First Manual
- KSS Global Drafting Standard
- VDA 4
- AIAG 4th edition
- VDA, Product creation: A Process description covering special characteristics (SC)

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

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