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What is the
purpose of the APQP and PPAP processes?
APQP (Advanced
Product Quality Planning) and PPAP (Production Part Approval
Process) are methods used in the automotive and other industries.
Their purpose is to ensure that the supplier understands the
customer's requirements and is capable of providing the required
quality and quantity of product on time.
Plans are worthless. Planning is priceless.
Although both
APQP and PPAP are somewhat taxing because of paperwork needed, the
concepts are sound. I've always said, "Plans are worthless. Planning
is priceless." Many of us plan on doing or getting to something and
it just doesn't happen. That's what I mean by plans are worthless
because they weren't backed-up by sound preparation and information.
APQP sets out a
clear path for planning, implementing and verifying a process. The
APQP process has five phases. What phases a company has to complete
depends on what they do. There are checklists provided in the back
of the guide published by AIAG that are very helpful in keeping on
the right path. They provide the organization and consistency needed
to ensure a successful product and process launch.
VOP = VOC
If I needed to
boil the whole idea down to a few words, it would be "Matching the
voice of the supplier's process to the voice of the customer, VOP =
VOC."
The time spent
upfront completing a well executed planning process can save
thousands of dollars and days of frustration in corrective action
activities.
PPAP
PPAP is the hard
proof that the supplier understood the customer's requirements. It
principally involves gathering all the data and information that was
generated throughout the APQP stage and presenting in prescribed
method and format to the customer for review and, hopefully,
approval.
The customer
reviews the PPAP submission and renders one of three possible
decisions:
1) Product
and process approved as submitted
2) Interim
approval with a request for additional information or samples
3) Not
approved - start over
If you would like
to learn to use the APQP and/or PPAP methods to help prevent
problems for new products and processes, give us jingle or drop us
an
email. Or, maybe this is something you should require your
suppliers to do to help improve the quality of stuff you get from
them.
APQP and PPAP training
You will
understand how to apply the Advanced Product Quality Planning and
Production Part Approval Process in a workshop environment.
Some of the
things we'll talk about in class are: Setting up and managing the
program, Getting an understanding of the entire APQP and PPAP
processes, Using the Plan/Do/Check/Act (PDCA) process model,
Determining where in the five phases an organization begins, When is
APQP appropriate?, Cross-functional Teams, and Definitions and
Acronyms.
You can have this class presented at your business for as little a
$65. per person. Class is one day.
The course includes:
1.
Introduction and Overview
2.
Plan and Define the Program
3.
Product Design & Development
4.
Product and Process Validation
5.
Submission Considerations
6.
Process Requirements
7.
Part Submission Warrant (PSW)
8.
Appearance Approval Report
9.
Bulk Material Submissions
10.
CEU and RU credits awarded
Additional
Information Resources
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