FAQ 34: Which CARA audit report shall I use in case of a remote support location(s)?

When to use the normal IATF CARA “Audit Report” and when to use a IATF CARA “Standalone remote support location audit report”?

Scenario 1 - Single Site

·         single site, i.e. manufacturing site with all supporting functions on-site

·         one physical location, i.e. one address

·         no other supported manufacturing site(s)

·         one audit on consecutive days

·         one audit team

 Audit Report Requirement:

The certification body shall use the IATF CARA “Audit Report” to document the audit in a single report. No separated audit reports are permitted in this scenario.

 NOTE: Even if this organization has been split in different legal entities, e.g. a support function on-site operates under a different legal name but is located at the same physical location and is included in the QMS and therefore audited in the same audit, the same requirement described above applies.  

Scenario 2 - Single Site with extended manufacturing site(s)

·         single site, i.e. manufacturing site with all supporting functions on-site

·         one or more extended manufacturing site(s) located at a different physical location(s) as the manufacturing site

·         no other supported manufacturing site(s)

·         one audit including the extended manufacturing site(s)

·         one audit team

 Audit Report Requirement:

The certification body shall use the IATF CARA “Audit Report” to document the audit in a single report and shall include the relevant information about the extended manufacturing site(s) in the relevant section of the “Audit Report”. No separated audit reports are permitted in this scenario.

 NOTE: Even if this organization has been split in different legal entities, e.g. a support function on-site operates under a different legal name but is located at the same physical location and is included in the QMS and therefore audited in the same audit, the same requirement described above applies. 

Scenario 3 - Single site with remote supporting function(s)

·         single site

·         one or more remote support functions located at a different physical location(s) than the manufacturing site

·         no other supported manufacturing site(s)

·         one audit including the remote support function location(s)

·         one audit team

 Audit Report Requirement:

The certification body shall use the IATF CARA “Audit Report” to document the audit in a single report and shall include the relevant information about the remote support location(s) in the relevant section of the “Audit Report”. No separated audit reports are permitted in this scenario.

NOTE: Even if this organization has been split in different legal entities, e.g. a remote support location operates under a different legal name, is located at a different physical address and is included in the QMS and therefore audited in the same audit, the same requirement described above applies. 

Scenario 4 - Single Site or manufacturing site of a Corporate Scheme with value-added activities on their customer´s premises (i.e. remote support location “servicing”)

·         single site or manufacturing site of a Corporate Scheme

·         value-added activities on their customer´s premises (i.e. remote support location “servicing”)

·         one audit including the value-added activities on their customer´s premises

·         one audit team

 Audit Report Requirement:

The certification body shall use the IATF CARA “Audit Report” to document the audit in a single report and shall document the value-added activities on their customer´s premises as a process and a remote support location(s) providing support to the audited manufacturing site with process activity “servicing”. No separated audit reports are permitted in this scenario.

NOTE: Even if this organization has been split in different legal entities, e.g. an extended manufacturing site operates under a different legal name and/or is located at a different physical address but is included in the QMS audited in the same audit, the same requirement described above applies.

Scenario 5 - Single Site or manufacturing site of a Corporate Scheme with remote supporting function(s):

·         separate audit for single Site or site or manufacturing site of a Corporate Scheme

·         separate audit(s) for remote supporting function(s)

·         different physical location(s) for (main) manufacturing site and remote supporting function(s)

 Audit Report Requirement:

The certification body shall use the IATF CARA “Audit report” to document the audit of the Single Site or manufacturing site of a Corporate Scheme and shall use separate IATF CARA “Standalone remote support location audit report” to document the remote supporting function(s).

NOTE:
Even if this organization has been split in different legal entities, e.g. remote supporting function(s) operates under a different legal name and/or is located at a different physical address but is included in the QMS, the same requirements described above applies.

Scenario 6: Single Site or manufacturing site of a Corporate Scheme with value-added activities on their customer´s premises

·         separate audit for single site or manufacturing site of a Corporate Scheme

·         separate audit(s) for value-added activities on their customer´s premises

·         different physical location(s) for the (main) manufacturing site and remote supporting function(s)

 Audit Report Requirement:

The certification body shall use the IATF CARA “Audit report” to document the audit of the single site or manufacturing site of a Corporate Scheme and shall use a separate IATF CARA “Standalone remote support location audit report” to document the audit of the value-added activities on their customer´s premises as a process with activities “servicing”.

 NOTE:

Even if this organization has been split in different legal entities, e.g. value-added activities on customer premises operates under a different legal name and/or is located at a different physical address but is included in the QMS, the same requirements described above applies.