The automotive industry describes its approach to product development and manufacturing in the advanced product quality planning (APQP) process. Within this structure are a collection of activities and artifacts that are collectively called the production part approval process (PPAP). The PPAP provides evidence of the actions taken by an automotive supplier to design and produce a quality product. Parts shipped to an OEM require a PPAP submission and customer sign off. Without them, the supplier’s parts cannot enter the OEM’s assembly plant.
APQP outlines the product development process from idea through to manufacturing. So, too, does the PPAP. It consists of the following 18 items: design records; customer engineering approval; process flow diagram; control plan; dimensional results; initial process studies; appearance approval report; golden, or master, sample parts; customer requirements; engineering change documents; design failure mode effects analysis (DFMEA); process failure mode effects analysis (PFMEA); measurement systems analysis (MSA); material and performance test results; lab certification documentation; sample production parts; checking aids; and part submission warrant.