Car maker PSA simplifies rubber approvals policy

The simplified approach ensures ‘robustness and durability,’ while making it easier for suppliers to understand PSA’s requirements, Laurent Bechu told a French rubber industry meeting organised by Centre Français du Caoutchouc et des Polymères.

The policy employs risk-assessments as well as ‘lesson learnt and benchmarks’ and can allow derogations, subject to compliance with an official validation plan, PSA co-presenter Latifa Normand explained at the Paris event.

PSA, said Normand, is also leveraging the fact that many compounds from major rubber suppliers comply with categories defined by existing global standards.

PSA has already applied this to over 130 different sealing applications on its vehicles and plans to also apply it to other parts, such as belts, hoses and AVS, by the yearend, according to the presenters.

This, they said, is making it easier ‘for suppliers of raw materials and rubber parts to understand PSA’s requirements and to promote and approve new materials.’ Tier 1 suppliers can, meanwhile, select their rubber parts suppliers more efficiently.

PSA is changing its ‘way of working’ in part due to pressures on the skills-base and to a recognition that lead times to approve rubber materials were too high, said the presenters.

Given ‘on-going reductions in headcounts in the industry [and] to the ‘worldwide material competencies footprint’, the new approach, ‘will help avoid misunderstandings of updated materials standards by tier 1 suppliers and product engineering teams.’