AIAG’s Core Tools Self-Assessment (CTSA) experienced a monumental year in 2021 – a year that included preparation of a new CTSA language, a change in FMEA focus, and an organization using the CTSA to drive Core Tools competency and employee training plans.
2021 was also a year with record high CTSA completion rates. Over the course of the year, 7,666 CTSAs were completed by 6,650 unique individuals – 5,956 of whom completed the self-assessment for the first time.
As CTSA engagement continues to increase – particularly with first time users – it’s worth noting that a slight downward trend in average scores (observed since approximately 2017) is not unexpected. While specific demographic information is not available, the CTSA’s reach has expanded significantly in the past three years, in large part due to AIAG’s 2020 Industry Restart promotion, which provided free access to Core Tools eDocuments with completion of the CTSA.
Other averages and trends in 2021 included a “spike” in FMEA scores, corresponding with the FMEA content in the self-assessment being switched from AIAG’s 4th Edition Handbook to the AIAG & VDA FMEA Handbook in October 2021. The following month, November 2021, had the highest FMEA average score of the year at 75.73%, which coincided with the other Core Tools high scores that month.
CASE STUDY: In 2021, Shape Corp. – a global tier-one automotive manufacturer that supplies body structural and safety components – identified employees to complete the CTSA and related eLearning so they could monitor knowledge gains across multiple locations. Shape’s global quality systems manager, Tina Noll, explains: “We partnered with AIAG to improve Quality Core Tools capabilities for our team members by utilizing the AIAG Core Tools Self-Assessment and eLearnings in 2021. This collaboration has led us to improving our teams’ capabilities in several areas.”
Per Noll, Shape followed a process that established a baseline through their team members’ completion of the CTSA before asking them to take the relevant eLearnings, and retake the self-assessment. Touting the effectiveness of the process, Noll concluded that their “overall average increased in one tool by as much as ten points!”
Of course, there’s no need to tackle this all at once. As Noll notes, Shape started locally before expanding to include global team members: “Our ongoing adoption of the assessment and eLearnings was expanded globally to our teams and was also made available to others outside of Quality, building the overall development for global team members with the Quality Core Tools.”
When used correctly, the CTSA should drive those taking the assessment to complete eLearnings before retaking the CTSA to determine their improvement. These Core Tools eLearnings are complimentary for everyone who enrolls in our Quality Core Tools Knowledge Badge program, along with AIAG members who get free access as a member benefit.
Ready to find out more? Click here to learn more about the CTSA, or click here to get started with our Knowledge Badge program today!
