Mitsubishi: IATF supplier auditing training

Mitsubishi Turbocharger and Engine Europe wanted to bring the entire Supplier Quality Development department to the same auditing level. This involved not only knowing the standard, but also being able to audit effectively and motivationally.

Symbol provided bespoke training with a focus on practical auditing skills. Result: five certified auditors who know how to persuade suppliers rather than confront them.

Challenge

Bringing the Supplier Quality department to a uniform IATF auditing level

Approach

Bespoke training focused on skills and motivational auditing techniques

Result

Five certified auditors with a win-win approach towards suppliers

About Mitsubishi (MTEE)

Mitsubishi Turbocharger and Engine Europe (MTEE) is the European branch of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and produces turbochargers and engines for the automotive industry. The company supplies OEMs and operates in a chain where quality, reliability, and compliance with standards such as IATF 16949 are non-negotiable. The Supplier Quality Development department is responsible for assessing and developing suppliers within that chain.

The challenge

The Supplier Quality Development department at MTEE is expected to be able to assess suppliers against IATF 16949 and other standards. This requires both in-depth knowledge of the standards and practical auditing skills. For a number of employees, performing audits effectively was relatively new. The level of knowledge within the department was not uniform and the approach towards suppliers varied.

The problem lay not only in knowledge but also in mindset: audits are often perceived as threatening by suppliers. An approach leading to cooperation instead of resistance was lacking.

Our approach

Symbol developed bespoke training tailored to the knowledge level and needs of the MTEE department. The focus was on practical auditing skills and a motivational approach, not just on theory.

Specifically, what was done:

Knowledge level and needs mapped out per participant
Training adapted to skills
Motivational auditing techniques taught
Participants certified as IATF auditors

“An audit is not a stick to beat suppliers with. If you do it right, it benefits both parties.”

Results

Metric	Before	After	Improvement
Certified IATF auditors	0 certified	5 certified	Achieved
Departmental IATF standard knowledge	Not uniform	Increased and standardised	Significantly improved
Approach towards suppliers	Varying, sometimes confrontational	Motivational and collaborative	Win-win secured
Structure during audits	Varying	Professional and consistent	Secured

Five certified auditors with a demonstrably stronger approach
Participants now know how to convince suppliers of the mutual interest in compliance with standards. Audits run more smoothly and benefit both parties.

Lessons learned

Auditing is a profession in its own right. Knowledge of the standard alone is not enough: an auditor who takes an adversarial stance against a supplier achieves less than an auditor who seeks cooperation. MTEE shows that the right mindset and approach make the difference between an audit that creates resistance and an audit that helps both parties move forward.

The second insight: customisation works. By mapping out the knowledge level per participant beforehand and tailoring the training accordingly, every training day was immediately relevant. No unnecessary repetition of what people already knew.

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Do you recognise this in your organisation?

Auditors who know the standard but struggle with an effective approach towards suppliers. A team that does not audit uniformly.

Symbol trains teams in both IATF standard knowledge and the practical skills for effective and motivational audits.

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