What is APQP?

What is Advanced Product Quality Planning?

APQP stands for Advanced Product Quality Planning. It is a disciplined process for suppliers to ensure they are capable of designing product and/or manufacturing systems that will meet their automotive customers’ requirements. It outlines a process for introduction of a new product while minimizing risk for you and your customer.

Learn More about APQP with this Tutorial:

APQP Tutorial

APQP stands for Advanced Product Quality Planning

It is how a new or revision to an existing product is designed, developed, manufactured and controlled.

APQP is

A process, not an event.
Structured methodology.
Assures customer satisfaction.

The output of APQP is

The Continual Improvement of Product Realization.

APQP is one of five Core Tools

Application

Existing Products – After product launch, process monitoring and review are used.

As a catalyst for continual improvement.
To prevent defects.
As a means for enforcing plant-floor discipline for controlling characteristic variation.

New Products – For new products, the existing process monitoring and review knowledge base.

Acts as an input to the Product Development process.
Brings the operator into the initial phases of product and process design.

Transfer Products – Moving product manufacturing from one site to another.

Benefits

Resources are directed toward customer satisfaction.
Early identification of required changes.
Changes close to or after product launch are avoided.
Process can successfully accommodate unavoidable changes.
A quality product is provided on time at the lowest cost.
Basis for continual improvement.

Phases

APQP includes Manufacturing Process Design & Review and cannot be excluded from the Quality Management System.

Management Review

Inputs

Results of audits.
Customer feedback.
Process performance and product conformity.

APQP Status – Measurements at specific stages.

Status of preventive and corrective actions.
Follow-up actions from previous management reviews.
Planned changes that could affect the Quality Management System.
Recommendations for improvement.
Analysis of actual and potential field failures and their impact on quality, safety, or the environment.

Core Tools Training - Purchase Options

Buy a copy of AIAG Standards:

APQP-3 (2024) – Advanced Product Quality Planning and Control Plan
IAQG Core Tools Manuals – Core Tool Requirements 6-Pack APQP, PPAP, FMEA, etc.

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