DAF Trucks: 30 Supplier Quality Managers IATF Certified

DAF Trucks requires its suppliers to be IATF 16949 certified. This means that their own Supplier Quality Managers must know the standard in detail and be able to audit professionally.

Symbol provided two customised training courses for a total of more than 30 managers. Result: certified auditors in-house, improved standard knowledge, and a stronger approach towards suppliers.

Challenge

Increase IATF standard knowledge and auditing skills among Supplier Quality Managers

Approach

Two customised six-day training courses for 30 managers

Result

Certified auditors in-house, faster detection of supplier shortcomings

About DAF Trucks

DAF Trucks is a Dutch truck manufacturer headquartered in Eindhoven and part of PACCAR, one of the largest truck manufacturers in the world. DAF is one of the few OEMs that is IATF 16949 certified itself. This places high demands on its own organisation and on the supply chain: DAF requires all its suppliers to also comply with the IATF standard. The Supplier Quality Assurance department is responsible for monitoring and improving this supplier quality.

The Challenge

As an IATF-certified OEM, DAF Trucks places high demands on its Supplier Quality Managers. They must know the standard in detail and be able to audit suppliers professionally. The level of knowledge within the organisation was already high, but not uniform. There was a need for structured training that aligned with DAF’s own audit tools and working methods, and that took into account the varying experience levels of the participants.

A standard IATF training was not sufficient. DAF needed a customised approach that connected theory to its own practice.

Our Approach

Symbol and DAF jointly developed a six-day in-company training, tailored to DAF’s knowledge level and working methods. The training was delivered twice for two groups with different experience levels.

What was done specifically:

Training programme developed
DAF’s own audit tools integrated into the training
IATF standard knowledge transferred
Auditing skills practised
Practical cases shared
Two programmes delivered

“Symbol has been a professional and reliable partner for us for years. The knowledge level of our managers was already high, and this was taken into account in the programme.”

Results

Metric	Before	After	Improvement
Certified IATF auditors in-house	Insufficient	30+ certified	Achieved
IATF standard knowledge of managers	Not uniform	Increased and standardised	Significantly improved
Detection of supplier shortcomings	Slower and less structured	Faster and more effective	Demonstrable
Approach towards suppliers	Varying	Stronger and more consistent	Ensured

More than 30 Supplier Quality Managers certified as IATF auditors
Supplier shortcomings are detected faster, and managers are stronger in their approach. That is what the training was designed for.

Lessons Learned

Standard training does not work when participants already have a high level of knowledge. DAF Trucks demonstrates that customisation makes the difference: by measuring the knowledge level, integrating their own tools, and aligning the training with DAF’s practice, the training became directly relevant and applicable.

The second insight: theory only sticks if it is practised. Role-playing, quizzes, and practical cases ensure that participants not only understand the standard but can also apply it in real audit situations.

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Do you recognise this in your organisation?

Employees who know the standard but do not audit uniformly and structured. A certification requirement that demands demonstrable auditing skills.

Symbol provides in-company IATF training that directly aligns with your own working methods and tools. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation.

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