Tech­ni­cal Service Cat­e­gory C

Initial Assessment and Conformity of Production (CoP)

GTÜ Certification GmbH supports manufacturers and approval holders in the evaluation of their production and quality assurance processes within the framework of the European type approval procedure.

As a designated Category C Technical Service, we assess, on behalf of type approval authorities, whether the organizational and procedural prerequisites are in place to ensure consistently compliant series production. The regulatory basis for this is Regulation (EU) 2018/858 for complete vehicles and the 1958 UNECE Convention for systems, components, and separate technical units.

Our services help companies to efficiently meet regulatory requirements and create the basis for stable and legally compliant series production.

What is Conformity of Production (CoP)?

Conformity of Production (CoP) describes the process by which manufacturers must ensure and demonstrate that every vehicle, system or component produced in series permanently conforms to the approved type.

The procedure comprises two essential elements:

CoP-Q – Quality

Systemic evaluation of quality management and production processes.

The goal is to ensure that:

• Suitable production processes are available
• Organizational structures ensure consistently compliant series production
• Quality assurance measures are effectively implemented

The work is carried out by Category C Technical Services or the licensing authority.

While the term CoP-Q is used in the European context, the German type approval authority (KBA) uses the term approval-relevant requirements (ARR) for this.

CoP-P – Production

Product-related random sample inspections on production vehicles, systems or components.

These tests serve to verify that individual production units conform to the approved type characteristics. The responsibility for carrying out the tests lies primarily with the manufacturer, possibly supported by testing laboratories or a Category D Technical Service.

Role of the Technical Service Category C

The Technical Service Category C assesses, on behalf of type approval authorities, whether a manufacturer has a suitable system to ensure production conformity.

The following aspects, among others, will be examined:

• Structure and effectiveness of the quality management system
• Production organization and responsibilities
• Implementation of quality assurance processes
• Implementation of approval-relevant requirements
• Ensuring the conformity of serial products with the approved type

GTÜ Certification GmbH is designated as a Category C Technical Service by, among others, the following authorities:

• Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), Germany
• SNCH – National Certification and Approval Company, Luxembourg
• Swedish Transport Agency (STA), Sweden

Further designations with additional type approval authorities are planned in the future.

Our services in the field of TD-C

Initial Assessment

The Initial Assessment is a fundamental requirement for manufacturers to obtain type approval from an approval authority.

The following are specifically evaluated:

• Basic structures of the quality management system
• Organization and structure of production processes
• Responsibilities, competencies and internal reporting channels
• Regulations on traceability and documentation
• Procedures for sampling and conducting CoP-P tests

The initial assessment therefore primarily evaluates the structural and organizational basis of the company to ensure that suitable systems and processes are implemented to guarantee production conformity.

CoP-Q Audits (Conformity of Production – Quality)

Following successful initial assessment and granting of type approval, regular CoP-Q audits are conducted for continuous monitoring of production.

While existing quality and production structures are also taken into account, the focus is increasingly on the practical implementation of the processes in ongoing production operations.

As part of the audits, our auditors assess, among other things:

• Implementation of quality and production processes in practice
• Conducting and documenting production controls
• Sampling and performance of CoP-P tests
• Changes to products or production processes and their impact on the Type approval

The results are documented in audit reports and submitted to the relevant type approval authority.

Why GTÜ Certification as a Category C Technical Service?

Practice-oriented audit execution

Our auditors combine regulatory expertise with a practical understanding of industrial production processes.

The focus of our audits is not solely on the formal evaluation of documentation, but especially on the practical implementation of the requirements in everyday production.

In this way, we support manufacturers in establishing sustainable and implementable solutions for their production and quality assurance processes.

Efficient audit concepts

To keep the audit effort for manufacturers as low as possible, we offer flexible and efficient audit concepts.

In many cases, for example, the following can be carried out:

• Combined CoP-Q and QM audits (e.g. ISO 9001)
• CoP-Q audits for multiple type approval authorities within one audit

Manufacturers benefit from these combined audit formats by:

• Reduced organizational effort
• Lower travel and audit costs
• A single point of contact for multiple regulatory requirements

Regulatory expertise and international experience

Our assessments are carried out in accordance with the following framework regulations and Manufacturers benefit from these combined audit formats by:

• (EU) 2018/858 – Motor vehicles and motor vehicle trailers
• (EU) 168/2013 – Two- or three-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles
• (EU) 167/2013 – Agricultural and forestry vehicles
• UNECE 1958 Convention including all relevant UNECE regulations for systems, components and separate technical units

We support manufacturers and suppliers worldwide in ensuring their production conformity and regularly conduct initial assessments and CoP audits on behalf of international type approval authorities.

For whom are our services relevant?

Our services are aimed particularly at:

• Vehicle manufacturers
• Manufacturers of systems, parts and components
• Approval holder in the European type approval procedure
• Automotive industry suppliers
• Companies with international series production

Your contact person for CoP-Q and Initial Assessments

Are you planning to obtain type approval or do you want to ensure the production conformity of your series production?

Our team will be happy to assist you with:

• Initial Assessment applications
• CoP-Q Auditing
• Questions regarding regulatory requirements in the type approval process

Please feel free to contact us – we look forward to your message.