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Procurement Glossary
Special Characteristics: Definition and Significance in Quality Management
November 19, 2025
Special characteristics refer to critical product features that require special attention in quality assurance. These characteristics have a direct impact on safety, function, or legal compliance and must therefore be monitored with increased care. Learn more about what special characteristics are, how they are identified, and what role they play in procurement management.
Key Facts
- Special characteristics are critical product features that have a direct impact on safety, function, or compliance.
- They are divided into three categories: Safety, Key, and Significant Characteristics.
- Require special monitoring through control plans and statistical process control
- Must be identified during the development phase using FMEA analyses
- Suppliers are obliged to monitor these characteristics with special quality assurance measures.
Contents
What are special characteristics?
Special characteristics are product features that require special monitoring due to their critical importance for safety, function, or legal requirements.
Categories of Special Characteristics
The automotive industry distinguishes between three main categories:
- Safety Characteristics: Features with a direct impact on vehicle safety
- Key Characteristics: Functionally critical features for product performance
- Significant Characteristics: Characteristics that affect customer satisfaction or compliance
Identification through FMEA
Special characteristics are systematically identified through FMEA analyses. Potential error effects are evaluated and critical characteristics are classified accordingly. The evaluation is based on risk priority numbers and the severity of possible failures.
Importance in Procurement
For purchasers, special characteristics mean increased requirements for supplier qualification and monitoring. They must ensure that suppliers have suitable control plans and testing equipment in place to reliably monitor these critical characteristics.
Process steps and responsibilities
The systematic handling of special characteristics requires structured processes from development to series production.
Identification and classification
The process begins in the development phase with the systematic identification of critical characteristics. Development teams perform FMEA analyses and evaluate potential failure effects. This is followed by classification according to safety, functionality, and compliance relevance.
Documentation and communication
Identified special characteristics are marked in technical drawings and specifications. Communication with suppliers takes place via quality agreements and detailed requirement documents. Specific monitoring requirements and reporting obligations are defined in the process.
Monitoring and control
Suppliers must create special control plans for special characteristics and implement statistical process control. Monitoring is carried out through continuous data collection, regular audits, and systematic evaluation of process capability.
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Important KPIs for special characteristics
Performance in Special Characteristics is measured by specific key figures that provide information about the effectiveness of quality assurance.
process capability indices
Cpk values measure the ability of processes to produce special characteristics within the specification limits. For critical characteristics, Cpk values of at least 1.67 are typically required. Process capability analysis is performed regularly and documents the stability of the manufacturing processes.
Error detection rate
This metric measures how effectively quality assurance measures detect deviations in special characteristics. High detection rates reduce the risk of defective parts reaching customers. Target values are typically above 95% for critical safety features.
Response time in case of deviations
The time between detecting a deviation and initiating containment measures is crucial for damage limitation. Target values vary depending on criticality, but are typically between 2 and 24 hours. Fast response times minimize potential impacts on downstream processes.
Risks, dependencies and countermeasures
Improper handling of special characteristics can pose significant risks for companies and end customers.
Security risks and liability
Inadequate monitoring of safety characteristics can lead to product failures with serious safety consequences. This results in product recalls, liability claims, and damage to reputation. Preventive measures include rigorous quality testing and redundant monitoring systems.
Supplier dependencies
Special characteristics create increased dependencies on qualified suppliers. Changing suppliers becomes more complex and time-consuming, as extensive requalification is required. Risk minimization is achieved through dual sourcing strategies and continuous supplier evaluation.
Compliance risks
Incomplete documentation or monitoring can lead to compliance violations. Regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly stringent, especially in safety-critical industries. Countermeasures include systematic audit programs and regular compliance reviews.
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Practical example
An automotive supplier produces brake discs for an OEM. The characteristic "disc thickness" is classified as a safety characteristic, as deviations have a direct impact on braking performance. The supplier implements a special control plan with 100% inspection of this characteristic using automated measurement technology. If the control limits are exceeded, production is automatically stopped and the quality team is notified immediately.
- Continuous SPC monitoring with Cpk > 1.67
- Automatic documentation of all measured values
- Monthly process capability studies and trend analyses
Current developments and effects
The treatment of special characteristics is constantly evolving, driven by technological advances and stricter quality requirements.
Digitization of surveillance
Modern quality management systems enable real-time digital tracking of special characteristics. IoT sensors and automated data collection significantly improve monitoring quality. AI-based systems can detect deviations at an early stage and initiate preventive measures.
Extended risk assessment
The identification of special characteristics is increasingly supported by advanced risk analyses. New assessment methods take into account environmental impacts, cybersecurity risks, and supply chain stability. This leads to a more holistic view of critical product characteristics.
Cross-industry standardization
Originally developed in the automotive industry, special characteristics are increasingly being used in other industries. Aerospace, medical technology, and energy technology are adapting these concepts to their specific requirements. This is leading to greater harmonization of quality standards.
Conclusion
Special characteristics are indispensable tools for ensuring critical product quality in modern supply chains. Their systematic identification, monitoring, and communication significantly reduces safety risks and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements. Successful implementation requires close cooperation between development, Procurement suppliers, as well as continuous refinement of monitoring methods. Investing in robust special characteristics processes pays off in the long term through reduced risks and increased customer satisfaction.
FAQ
What distinguishes special characteristics from normal quality characteristics?
Special characteristics have a direct impact on safety, function, or legal compliance and therefore require special monitoring measures. They are specially marked, require increased process capabilities, and are subject to stricter documentation requirements than normal quality characteristics.
How are special characteristics communicated in the supply chain?
Special characteristics are marked with special symbols in technical drawings and communicated to suppliers via quality agreements. In addition, documentation is provided in control plans, PPAP documents, and audit checklists for clear identification and tracking.
What are the consequences of not observing special characteristics?
Failure to comply can lead to product failures, safety risks, product recalls, and significant liability claims. In addition, there is a risk of compliance violations, supplier bans, and lasting damage to reputation. The costs of rework and compensation usually exceed the investment in preventive quality measures considerably.
How often do special characteristics need to be checked?
The frequency of testing depends on the criticality of the characteristic and can range from 100% testing to statistical sampling. Safety characteristics usually require continuous or very frequent monitoring, while key characteristics require regular but less intensive checks.
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