Häufig gestellte Fragen
What distinguishes Tier-1, Tier-2 and Tier-3, and what does that mean for the ERP?
Tier-1 suppliers deliver assemblies or complete systems directly to the OEM (such as Bosch, Continental or ZF), Tier-2 supplies sub-assemblies and components to Tier-1, and Tier-3 provides individual parts such as screws, bearings or seals. According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), around 70 percent of a vehicle's value creation is attributable to the predominantly mid-sized suppliers, and the German automotive industry employs several hundred thousand people in total. For the ERP this means tiered requirements: a Tier-1 must cover the full range of VDA EDI, JIT/JIS control and IATF 16949, while for Tier-2 and Tier-3 leaner EDI processes and quality management according to ISO 9001 are often sufficient. The exact functional scope, however, depends heavily on the specific customer base and the depth of customising.
Which EDI standards and message types are mandatory in automotive?
In the German automotive industry, VDA standards are widespread, such as the classic delivery schedule VDA 4905 (now superseded by VDA 4984) and the despatch advice VDA 4913 (now VDA 4987), while ODETTE dominates in Europe and the ANSI X12 standard in the USA. On an EDIFACT basis, the central messages are the delivery schedule DELFOR (a medium- to long-term preview covering several months up to a year), the just-in-time call-off DELJIT, the despatch advice DESADV (ASN) and the invoice INVOIC. Which of these standards are binding is determined not by the legislator but by the respective customer through their supplier requirements. Licence costs typically account for only a smaller share of total project costs; the majority goes to customising, implementation, training and data migration.
How do JIT and JIS differ in their ERP requirements?
Just-in-Time (JIT) ensures that the right part arrives at the assembly line at the right time, while Just-in-Sequence (JIS) additionally guarantees the exact installation sequence and assigns each component to a specific vehicle on the line. JIS is thus a further development of JIT and places significantly higher demands on the ERP, because the sequence numbers transmitted by the OEM must be processed almost in real time. For this, the system needs sequence logic, fine-grained container and timing control, and escalation workflows for imminent sequence breaks. Errors in the sequence lead directly to stoppages on the line and frequently entail contractually agreed penalties.
Is IATF 16949 mandatory for automotive suppliers?
IATF 16949 is a specification for quality management systems maintained by the International Automotive Task Force that adopts the full text of ISO 9001 and supplements it with automotive-specific requirements. It is not a legal obligation, but in practice it is usually a contractual or market-driven prerequisite for being listed as a series supplier to an OEM at all. The ERP supports certification by making elements such as initial sample inspection, control plans, FMEA and traceability representable. Tier-2 and Tier-3 businesses sometimes work with reduced requirements or only to ISO 9001, but when supplying IATF-certified customers they generally have to provide comparable evidence.
Do I need a Catena-X connection as a Tier-2 supplier?
Catena-X is an open, decentralised data ecosystem of the automotive industry (founded by OEMs and suppliers such as BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Schaeffler) for cross-company data exchange along the supply chain, covering topics such as demand forecasts, quality data and the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF). Pressure is rising above all through CO₂ reporting and regulatory requirements such as the Digital Product Passport, so that from 2026/2027 Tier-2 and in some cases Tier-3 suppliers will increasingly be confronted with Catena-X requirements from their customers. A direct connection is not mandatory for everyone today, but an API-first architecture makes a later connection considerably easier. Exactly what the requirement looks like depends on the respective customer, the industry and the position in the chain.
How does an ERP support initial sample inspection (PPAP/PPF) and IMDS obligations?
Before the start of series production, automotive customers require a structured product and process approval, in Europe as PPF according to VDA Volume 2 and internationally as the AIAG's PPAP with several submission levels. A capable ERP manages the associated sampling documents, control plans and inspection records and links them to item and supplier master data. In parallel, the International Material Data System (IMDS) requires the declaration of the material and substance composition of components in order to demonstrate compliance with regulations such as REACH, RoHS and the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (ELV). The ERP provides the bill-of-materials and material data needed for IMDS reports and for end-to-end traceability from the component down to the material.