Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) Advanced Product Quality Panning (APQP) is a structured approach to the design a nd development

of new products and manufacturing processes, designed to ensure t hatSuppliers understand the requirements of their commercial clients, end u sers and consumers. The proposed product or process design satisfies those requirements The supplier has the ability to consistently meet the clients requiremen ts for quality, cost and delivery The APQP process was developed by a consortia of automotive companies, and first published by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) in 1994, and has since been adopted by many companies involved it the design and production of vehicle s and component systems. APQP is now recognised in the TS 16949 Quality Standard as a possible customer requirement, and when specified becomes mandatory for al l component suppliers. A key features of the APQP process include:The use of common terminology throughout the component supply chain, and the use of 'standard forms' to document information regarding the product and p rocess design, to ease communication with the supply chain partners A process model for Product Development, that defines the expected input s and outputs for each of the sub-processes, including Project definition Project planning Product design and development Design validation Process design and development Process validation Control Plan methodology The use of recommended 'tools and techniques' to improve product and pro cess quality, including:Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA) during system, product and process design to identify and control 'risk' Statistical techniques and Statistical Process Control (SPC) to control process variation and minimise it's impact on product quality Measurement System Analysis (MSA) to ensure that measuring systems are s uitable, allowing non conforming product to be detected and removed from the sup ply chain. A control plan methodology, to ensure non-conforming product is containe d within the process and is not released to clients or consumers Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) to assure commercial clients the supplier has understood their requirements and has the ability to consistently produce conforming product. Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) provides customers with evidence tha t Component suppliers have understood their requirements, The product meets the customers requirements The production process is capable of consistently producing conforming p roduct PPAP is an important part of the product development process, allowing producers to evaluate the components and sub-systems which they receive from suppliers, a nd establishing confidence in the supplier's management systems. Although indivi dual manufacturers have their own particular requirements, the Automotive Indust ry Action Group (IAAG) has developed a common PPAP standard as part of the Advan ced Product Quality Planning Process (APQP) - and encouraging the use of common terminology and standard forms to document project status. The PPAP process is designed to demonstrate that the component supplier has deve loped their design and production process to meet the client's requirements, min imising the risk of failure by effective use of APQP. Requests for part approval

must therefore be supported by:Sample Parts Documentary evidence from the development process. Evidence of satisfactory design and process validation The evidence may be collated as the project progresses from concept through to p roduction, reducing the administrative burden and overheads associated with the approval process. However, the supplier must demonstrate that they have responde d to changing customer requirements, and that records are up to date. Failure to follow the the agreed development process, or poor record keeping, ex posed during the PPAP process will undermine confidence in the quality of the co mponents supplied and suppliers management systems. In association with the Excel Partnership, Stunell Technology provides training and support for companies who are required to adopt the PPAP process