Quality management system requirements

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When applying for some approvals under the Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) legislation you need to show that you have an appropriate quality management system (QMS) in place.

To meet the criteria under the RVS legislation, when you apply for vehicle type, low ATM trailer (via a vehicle type) and component type approvals, you need to have either:

  • full control over all stages of the design, componentry and manufacturing process for the type of road vehicle or road vehicle component, or
  • access to information, including information about any changes, relating to the design, componentry and manufacture of the type of road vehicle or road vehicle component that may affect its compliance with the applicable national road vehicle standards.

During the application process, you need to upload supporting documentation demonstrating the type of control you have indicated.

When you apply for a registered automotive workshop (RAW) approval, you need to have a QMS that covers a range of measures, actions and written procedures that satisfy the eligibility criteria outlined in paragraph 58(b) of the Road Vehicle Standards Rules 2019.

If you indicate you have full control

If you indicate you have full control, we expect you to have processes documented and followed allowing you to have control over all stages of the design, componentry and manufacturing process. These processes may be documented as part of a QMS accredited by the relevant international certification body. This means you would hold a valid ISO 9001 series certificate with relevant scope covering the design and manufacture of road vehicles.

Relevant ISO 9001 accreditation certificate

The ISO 9001 series provides the quality assurance framework for the design and manufacturing processes within an organisation to operate effectively and ensure that all vehicles or components meet requirements, including design change control.

An ISO 9001 certificate is not a requirement under the RVS legislation, however where an ISO 9001 certificate is held and relied on, you must ensure it is current and the scope of the certification is relevant to the design and manufacture of the road vehicle.

If you do not have an ISO 9001 series certificate, the department expects you to support your claim of having full control over the design, componentry and manufacture of the component or road vehicle by providing:

  • documentation incorporating all of the measures, stages, actions, methodologies, operating instructions and other operating practices and processes that ensure full control over the design, componentry and manufacture. Collectively, these form what the department refers to as the full QMS, or
  • a summarised version of the QMS (the department's preferred option for an applicant to upload when submitting an application). However, you must still have the full documented measures and operating instructions (QMS) available, as we may request this during the assessment process (after your application has been submitted).

Vehicle type approval

As mentioned above, when applying for a vehicle type approval, you need to provide supporting documentation demonstrating the type of control you have indicated. This may include a QMS.

More information on what is expected in a QMS for a vehicle type approval application is available in Appendix 2 of the Guide to vehicle type approvals and the QMS checklist for vehicle type approvals

Low ATM trailers

Vehicle type approval applicants must keep their supporting information and all relevant documents up to date to satisfy eligibility criteria. For example, an appropriate QMS that demonstrates full control of the design, componentry and manufacturing process.

More information on QMS is available in Appendices 2 and 3 of the Guide to vehicle type approvals for low ATM trailers (4.5t ATM or less).

A Quality management system checklist for applicants is also available.

Component type approval

When you apply for a component type approval you must be able to demonstrate you have full control over all stages of the design, componentry and manufacturing process, or, have access to information about the design, componentry and manufacture of the component.

If you indicate full control, we expect you to have processes documented and followed. These may be documented as part of a QMS.

More information on QMS is available in Appendices 3 on the Guide to component type approvals and the Quality management checklist for component type approvals.

Registered automotive workshops

Under section 58(b) of the RVS Rules, RAWs must have a QMS.

A RAW must be able to demonstrate the corporation has a QMS covering the span of operations to be performed, including having, or being able to access the appropriate equipment, trained/qualified personnel and procedures.

The QMS scope should be relevant to the types of modifications carried out by the RAW. For example, if the business is carrying out second stage of manufacture modifications, the scope should reference factors relevant to these types of modifications.

The function should specify the purpose of the QMS. It should be specific to the type of modification to be carried out, and should reference the authorised use of an approved Model Report and follow the requirements in the Model Report's Work Instructions.

More information is available from Table 1 in the Guide to registered automotive workshops and Appendix 3—Quality management system summary of measures and actions used by a registered automotive workshop approval holder to manufacture or modify vehicles in accordance with an approved Model Report.