Quality APQP & PPAP Definitions

Of the several quality management standards used by companies that supply services or products to other corporations, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) have been adopted most wholeheartedly. These standards ensure that parity is maintained between the marketed goods and the customer expectations. Propounded by the Big Three automakers in the early 1990s, each of the standards has its own instruction manual, published by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG). Although the two are quite closely related, there are some major differences. Read more: Quality APQP & PPAP Definitions | eHow http://www.ehow.com/info_11402839_qualityapqp-ppap-definitions.html#ixzz2TdkiKUwK

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Defining APQP and PPAP

APQP details a set of guidelines that helps drawing a plan that would sustain the expansion of a product or service and meet the needs of the customer at the same time. The plan offers tools to counter a problem that might be hampering the growth or affecting the customer. There are four stages involved in the process: plan, do, study and act. Of the four, the first three are aimed at processing the entire circle and enhancing the service. Act is the execution of the process and meeting the customer's requirements. The AIAG training program states that the purpose of PPAP is to assess whether the customer's engineering plan and requirement necessities are correctly recognizeds by the supplier. PPAP is the proof that the customer's needs have been interpreted correctly by the supplier.

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PPAP is a Part of APQP

From the definitions, it is apparent that PPAP is the result of correct use of APQP. PPAP is all about collecting data and information created by the APQP phase and presenting the worked out design to the customer for response and sanction. In fact, the Act stage of APQP is, in essence, PPAP. Based on the customer's feedback, trial production runs are implemented to further improve the quality of delivery.

The Purposes
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The purposes of APQP are broadly planning and defining program, product design and development, process design and development, product and process validation and feedback corrective action. The purpose of PPAP is included in the goals of APQP; they are product and process validation and feedback corrective action. It renders three possible reactions: the product and process may be approved, an interim decision may be given, requesting further information or awaiting decision or it may be entirely rejected.

Customer Involvement
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APQP has little or no customer involvement. In this phase of the planning, engineers and managers looking after the supply chains of the business put their heads together to draw up a plan of action. PPAP, on the other hand, requires the customer's approval, or a negative feedback, as the case might be. Obviously, this stage involves direct customer participation.

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References

Quality Magazine; Future of APQP and PPAP in Doubt; Roderick A. Munro; May 2003 Quality Magazine: Future of APQP and PPAP in Doubt; Roderick A. Munro, May 2003 QC Inspection Services, Inc.; Advanced Product Quality Planning; Doug Stohr Quality One: APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning)
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What Is a Level III PPAP?

The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) quality documentation system is designed to verify a manufacturer's ability to produce automotive parts. One of five submission levels, Level 3 includes a Part Submission Warrant (PSW), product samples and complete supporting data. Read more: What Is a Level III PPAP? | eHow http://www.ehow.com/facts_7898156_level-iiippap.html#ixzz2Tdl1zX00

PPAP Manual

Procedures and requirements for PPAP are provided in detail in the PPAP manual published by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG). Requirements for a Level 3 submission are extensive and include design records, process flow diagrams, qualified laboratory documentation and measurement system analysis studies.

Software Tools

Multiple types of software can help you with the PPAP submission process. For example, you can purchase fill-in-the-blank Excel templates of PPAP submission forms, or full software packages that let you manage part characteristics for complete manufacturing and quality compliance.

Length of Approval

Your PPAP submission remains valid until you make a design or process change to a part or until the part has been out of production for 12 months. You must notify your distributors and customers before implementing any changes to parts.

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