Introduction
PSCR training builds the competence that Product Safety and Conformity Representatives in the automotive supply chain need in order to carry out their tasks.
The reference document for this field was renewed in July 2026. VDA published the Product Compliance – Volume 2: Product Safety and Product Conformity guideline as a 1st edition, and this document replaced the old VDA “Product Integrity” (Produktintegrität) volume published in 2018. The term “Product Integrity” has given way to the concept of “Product Compliance.”
The new guideline makes product safety and conformity requirements concrete across the entire product life cycle — from innovation to end of service life — and redefines the PSCR role within the supply chain.
Table of Contents
An important naming note
This guideline is frequently referred to as “VDA 2,” but that is wrong. VDA 2 is a separate volume dealing with production process and product approval (PPA).
The document here is volume 2 of the VDA Product Compliance series. The correct name: VDA Product Compliance – Volume 2: Product Safety and Product Conformity. The abbreviation of the role is PSCR.
Knowing this distinction prevents confusion in purchasing and audit correspondence.
Product safety and product conformity: what is the difference?
The two concepts are frequently used interchangeably, yet they rest on different legal bases:
Product safety meets the basic expectation of product safety legislation: that the product is free from unacceptable risks.
Product conformity focuses on meeting all applicable requirements for the product and is directly linked to product liability.
One of the improvements the new guideline brings is a clearer separation of the tasks belonging to these two areas. In practice many organizations gather the two under a single checklist and leave the conformity side incomplete.
The core motivation for strengthening both areas is clear: product recall numbers that continue to rise worldwide.
What changed with VDA Product Compliance Volume 2?
Clearer terminology. The “Product Integrity” concept has given way to “Product Compliance.” Product Compliance means fulfilling the binding obligations that apply to the organization’s products throughout the product life cycle.
The PSCR role redefined. The role was reconsidered particularly in the supply chain context. The difference between the “management” and the “execution” of PSCR tasks was explicitly defined — this allows the responsibility that piles up on a single person to be distributed realistically.
Flexibility in task allocation. Organizations can delegate these tasks through appropriate processes to one or more persons, functions or roles. The overall responsibility, however, cannot be delegated; it remains with top management.
Clearer documentation expectations. How, to what extent and for how long the results of PSCR activities are to be documented has been defined more explicitly. This was one of the most frequent sticking points in audits.
Concrete development-phase tasks. Which tasks the PSCR takes on during product and production process development phases has been detailed. The role is no longer confined to the series production and deviation management stage.
First reference to hazard assessments and safety goals. Hazard assessments during development and safety goals such as fault tolerance time were brought into the scope of the guideline for the first time. An important development for organizations with an interface to functional safety work.
The interface with audit types emphasized. The importance of linking to the results of VDA 6.5 product audits, VDA 6.3 process audits and CoP (Conformity of Production) checks was stated.
A framework separate from management systems. The guideline’s provisions do not affect quality management systems such as ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 and are not used to interpret or assess those standards. It is a separate but complementary framework.
Why does it matter now?
Three factors have come together:
OEM expectation. German OEMs began asking their suppliers to appoint a product safety officer from the mid-2010s; over time this request became standardized as the PSCR. Appointing one PSCR per production site is now the common expectation.
IATF 16949 requirements. Product safety is among IATF 16949’s own requirements, and the appointment of a PSCR is frequently stipulated through customer-specific requirements (CSRs).
Changing product liability legislation. The European Union’s new product liability regulation is in the process of being transposed in the member states. For suppliers selling into the EU market, being able to demonstrate conformity documentation and the chain of responsibility is becoming increasingly critical.
Who should attend PSCR training?
- Appointed PSCRs and their deputies
- Product safety officers (those carrying out the former PSB role)
- Quality managers and quality system officers
- Product and process development engineers
- Teams running deviation management and customer complaint processes
- Supplier quality development teams
- IATF 16949 internal auditors
- Representatives of the legal and compliance function
There are no prerequisites. For those already serving as PSCR, the emphasis shifts to the differences introduced by the new guideline.
Training Content
Conceptual framework
- The Product Compliance concept and its scope
- The difference between product safety and product conformity
- Binding obligations across the product life cycle
- Product liability and recall risk
- Differences from the old “Product Integrity” approach
The PSCR role and the organization
- The PSCR’s tasks and authorities
- The distinction between managing and executing the tasks
- Distributing the tasks across several persons or functions
- The non-delegable responsibility of top management
- The PSCR’s competence requirements and the appointment process
- The PSCR communication network along the supply chain
PSCR tasks across the product life cycle
- Development phase: tasks in the product and production process phases
- The relationship with hazard assessments and safety goals
- Monitoring and verification in series production
- Deviation management and handling deviations in the supply chain
- Field incidents, complaints and recall processes
- End of service life and the spare parts period
Documentation and evidence
- What is documented, how and for how long
- Decision records and traceability
- An evidence structure presentable in audits
- Frequently encountered documentation gaps
The interface with audits
- The link with the VDA 6.3 process audit
- The link with the VDA 6.5 product audit
- CoP (Conformity of Production) checks
- Typical questions directed at the PSCR in customer audits
Practical exercises
Participants carry out deviation evaluations, create decision records and design a documentation structure using sample scenarios. In in-house programmes the exercises are run on your own product groups and existing procedures.
Learning Outcomes
- Distinguishing product safety from product conformity and managing the two separately
- Defining PSCR tasks and authorities in a way that fits the organization’s structure
- Separating the management and execution of the tasks and distributing them to the right people
- Planning the product safety tasks of the development phase
- Building a documentation structure presentable in audits
- Running deviation and field incident processes
Duration and Participation Options
Duration: 2 days in open-enrolment programmes. In in-house programmes, planned as 1–3 days depending on the scope and participant profile.
Participation type: Open enrolment or in-house.
Training method: In person (at your organization or in our training room), live online, on-demand recording.
Dates: Set according to demand.
Certificate of Attendance
Participants who complete the training receive a certificate of attendance. The certificate includes the participant’s name, training scope, date and duration. It can be used as evidence of competence in your PSCR appointment and competence records, and in customer and certification audits.
Beyond Training: Implementation Support
You can make use of our consulting services in every area where support is needed.
- Setting up the PSCR structure and preparing the role descriptions
- Designing the product safety and conformity documentation system
- Establishing the deviation management process
- Gap analysis of your current set-up against the new guideline
- Internal and supplier audit services
Frequently Asked Questions About PSCR Training
When was VDA Product Compliance Volume 2 published? The 1st edition was published in July 2026 and replaced the 2018 VDA “Product Integrity” volume.
Is this guideline “VDA 2”? No. VDA 2 is a separate volume dealing with production process and product approval (PPA). The document here is volume 2 of the VDA Product Compliance series. It is a frequently confused point in the industry.
What does PSCR mean? Product Safety and Conformity Representative. It has replaced the previously used product safety officer (PSB) role.
Is appointing a PSCR at every site mandatory? The VDA recommendation is to appoint one PSCR per production site. In addition, many OEMs stipulate it within their customer-specific requirements; we recommend checking your contracts and CSR documents.
Should one person carry out all PSCR tasks? No. The guideline states that the tasks can be delegated through appropriate processes to one or more persons, functions or roles. The overall responsibility, however, cannot be delegated; it remains with top management.
Are product safety and product conformity the same thing? No. Product safety focuses on the product being free from unacceptable risks. Product conformity covers meeting all applicable requirements for the product and product liability. The new guideline defines this distinction more clearly.
Does this guideline affect our IATF 16949 certificate? The guideline’s provisions do not directly affect quality management systems such as ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 and are not used to interpret those standards. However, product safety is among IATF 16949’s own requirements, and PSCR appointment may be required through customer-specific requirements.
Do our existing PSCRs need to be retrained? Since the guideline has been renewed and the role redefined, your competence records are expected to be based on the current edition. For experienced PSCRs, a short update programme focused on the differences may be sufficient.